Canadian Army Commander Vows to Eradicate Extremism in the Ranks

The Canadian army is grappling with the issue of extremism within its ranks, according to Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright, the commander of the Canadian army. In a recent interview, Lt.-Gen. Wright acknowledged that the recent arrests of two Canadian soldiers in connection with an alleged terrorist plot are "somewhat troubling" and have "eroded our cohesion and eroded our credibility."

The commander said he is working to map out the extent of the problem and has instructed his division commanders to ensure any soldier who knows of extremist behavior steps forward to report it. Lt.-Gen. Wright emphasized that extremism threatens the military's ability to attract and retain top talent, which is crucial for the Canadian Armed Forces' modernization efforts.

The army commander described extremism as "disgusting" and said he expects every soldier to have the "moral courage" to call out inappropriate behavior, just as they would have the courage to go into combat. The military has taken steps to address the issue, including a new probationary period for new recruits that allows for the release of individuals who display hateful or discriminatory behavior.

Despite these efforts, Lt.-Gen. Wright admitted that the scope of the problem remains unclear, and the Canadian army will need to work closely with other elements of the Canadian Armed Forces and the national security community to define the issue and take action to eradicate it.