OTTAWA, ON – The Canadian Army is currently investigating members allegedly involved with a private Facebook group, “Blue Hackle Mafia,” which Canada’s top soldier has deemed to contain “abhorrent” content, including “racist, misogynistic, homophobic and antisemitic comments and images.” This investigation comes amidst ongoing pressure on the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) to address concerns about extremism within its ranks.
Lt.-Gen. Mike Wright, the Canadian Army commander, expressed his strong disapproval of the group’s content in a message to armed forces members, shared with CBC News. “I am disgusted by the content of some of the posts published on this group,” Wright stated, emphasizing that he has “ordered that any serving Canadian Army members currently on this social media group immediately cease their participation.” He also warned of potential consequences for those involved.
The alleged misconduct was reported up the chain of command as recently as December, with Lt.-Gen. Wright becoming aware of the situation on June 25.
Military Police Launching New Investigation
Complaints regarding the “Blue Hackle Mafia” group were initially investigated by military police in Ottawa before being transferred to a unit for a disciplinary investigation. The Office of the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal confirmed this transfer was considered “the best use of options available in the military justice system, in this case.”
However, the military police re-opened their investigation on June 27. “This new investigation is ongoing and no further information will be provided at this time to protect the integrity of the investigation,” stated the provost marshal’s office. Details surrounding the “Blue Hackle Mafia” group, including the number of CAF members allegedly involved, remain limited. The term “Hackle” may refer to the plume worn by some infantry regiments.
Persistent Warnings About Extremism in the Ranks
This latest incident highlights a persistent challenge for the Canadian Armed Forces in detecting and preventing extremism within its ranks. Recent reports have urged the CAF to strengthen its efforts.
In 2021, the National Security and Intelligence Review Agency, an independent watchdog, issued a report warning that extremism is an “active” threat to the Canadian Armed Forces. The report underscored the need for more resources to effectively address this issue, noting that “White supremacist groups actively seek individuals with prior military training and experience, or conversely, encourage individuals to enlist in order to gain access to specialized training, tactics and equipment.”
Past incidents have also brought this issue into the spotlight. In a more extreme case, former Manitoba army reservist Patrik Mathews was sentenced in 2021 to nine years in prison by a U.S. judge for charges related to what the FBI described as a neo-Nazi plot to instigate a race war in the United States.
