Court Martials? in Recognition of Insubordinate Dishonourable Conduct

Court Martials? in Recognition of Insubordinate Dishonourable Conduct

"I can share that I am disgusted by the content of some of the posts published on this group."

"Posting such content runs counter to our values and ethics. I have reinforced with the chain of command the importance of our military disciplinary and administrative processes in addressing reported misconducts."

"[The Blue Hackle Mafia Facebook group features] abhorrent racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic comments and images."

"I have ordered that any serving Canadian Army members currently on this social media group immediately cease their participation."

"Further, I have issued direction to the Canadian Army chain of command to reinforce that this type of behaviour is unacceptable, and any member who engages in inappropriate behaviour should expect to face administrative and/or disciplinary consequences." 

Canadian Army commander Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright

The Canadian Armed Forces has been mired over the last decade in charges of sexual assault, harassment, racism and  homophobia. Now comes more recent news of a group known as the Blue Hackle Mafia comprised of soldiers from the Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa (a reserve unit operating out of the Cartier Square Drill Hall) operating a private Facebook account where photos are posted of themselves in uniform exposing their genitals and expressing antisemitic, misogynistic, homophobic and racist comments. 

 

The Canadian Army is investigating a Facebook group operated by soldiers of an Ottawa military unit. Photo by Facebook/Blue Hackle Mafia

 

The Facebook page has been in operation for the past 14 years, and boasts around 200 participants. Some images show male soldiers in uniform exposing their genitals, others posing naked with Canadian Forces weapons or simulating sex acts with one another while in uniform. Some photographs were taken at military installations. Derogatory sexual comments were posted of former prime minister Justin Trudeau. Discussions took place among the men relating to raping grandmothers. This bespeaks a calibre of individuals whose values and morals bring infamy to the Canadian Forces. 

 

But then, why should enlisted men be of superior intelligence, and moral uprightness when their leaders appear to lack these virtues? Take for example, the instances of the very top soldiers in the Canadian military and revelations of their personal code of conduct that were displayed in full shameful measure several years ago. Aside from the humiliation visited upon them by such disclosures in the public arena, none among them appear to have suffered punishment commensurate with their dishonourable acts...  And it appears that the military attracts more numbers than might be imagined of personnel who bring shame to civilized society. 

"Since early February 2021, 13 senior Canadian military officers — current and former — have been sidelined, investigated or forced into retirement from some of the most powerful and prestigious posts in the defence establishment."

"Experts say they can't think of another military anywhere else in the world that has seen so many senior leaders swept up in scandal at the same time."

"Some senior leaders are facing allegations of sexual misconduct and are under military police investigation. Two people have been charged criminally in connection to the claims. Some have launched public campaigns to fight for their jobs back." 

"In other cases, military leaders have been placed on leave over their own handling of sexual misconduct files that triggered public backlash and division in the ranks."

"The investigations often came to light publicly only after journalists started asking questions of the Department of National Defence (DND)."

"DND says military police do not "proactively disclose the existence of ongoing investigations" because it could jeopardize the integrity of those investigations. Investigations are confirmed publicly on a case-by-case basis, taking into account the investigation, privacy rights and the public's right to know, the department said."

CBC News -- October 3, 2023 

Former chief of the defence staff and retired general Jonathan Vance (left), his successor as chief of the defence staff Admiral Art McDonald (middle), and Vice-Admiral Haydn Edmundson, the military's former commander in charge of military human resources (right). (CBC)

 

Retired general Jonathan Vance — Canada's former top military commander —  conceded as part of the guilty plea that he had a longtime sexual relationship with Maj. Kellie Brennan which continued while he was chief of defence staff. Vance also conceded that he has a child with Brennan.

Vance's successor as chief of the defence staff, Admiral Art McDonald, was terminated from his position in Nov. 2021, after almost nine months on leave with pay in connection with sexual misconduct allegations.

Former lieutenant-general (now retired) Christopher Coates — Canada's former top commander at NORAD — was investigated by military police for several months over an alleged extramarital affair.

It was alleged that Coates had an affair with an American civilian while he was second-in-command at NORAD headquarters in Colorado. The Canadian Armed Forces considers relationships within the chain of the command to be off-limits. 

 

Military personnel in one posting discuss getting together for drinks at an Ottawa bar: "All welcome (except the Jews of course)." Screen shots of some postings were provided by an investigative reporter, David Pugliese, at the Ottawa Citizen newspaper to Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright who confirmed that an investigation into the social media group has been underway since December. The investigation, still ongoing, could not be elaborated upon, according to Lt.-Gen. Wright. Perhaps not astonishingly, some of those depicted in the images are of the unit's officers.

 

The Cameron Highlanders of Ottawa serve as the official regiment of the city of Ottawa, tasked, as required, to provide ceremonial guards of honour for visiting dignitaries and for national ceremonies and events. The scandals in the Canadian Forces of sexual misconduct and activities bringing shame to the Canadian military gave way to reports and enquiries conducted by Supreme Court justices. The public shame and controversy prompted the military to pledge to work to resolve the issue, particularly after a number of elite military officers faced charges or court proceedings for sexual misconduct or assault. 

 

Despite which in the interim when news reports of sexual abuse in the military died down after the initial scandal-driven investigation and reports, the leadership of the Canadian Forces appeared to feel that sexual misconduct scandals could be laid to rest; the public eye no longer upon them and news media reporting decreased. Legal cases have ended, some senior officers magnanimously found not guilty.  

 

The Canadian Army is investigating a Facebook group operated by soldiers of an Ottawa military unit. Photo by Facebook/Blue Hackle Mafia