Five Canadian soldiers have been suspended amid an investigation into a video showing Nazi salutes, raising concerns about extremism within the armed forces.

In a significant move, five members of the Canadian Armed Forces have been suspended while military police conduct an investigation following the emergence of a video depicting individuals performing Nazi salutes. This development has stirred considerable concern within the ranks and beyond.

The army's commander, Lt.-Gen. Michael Wright, expressed his deep dismay at the video's contents, labeling them as unsettling. He emphasized that hate and extremism are unequivocally unwelcome in the Canadian Army.

“I am deeply disturbed and profoundly disappointed with the content of the video - the behaviour is completely unacceptable, and swift action will be taken,” Wright stated in a message to media outlets.

A member of the public brought this troubling video to military attention. It reveals a group consisting of at least seven people, including five identified as active members of the Canadian Army.

Recorded in 2023, the footage also depicts someone executing drills in front of the Royal 22e Regiment flag while "consuming a substance," adding further context to its controversial nature.

Lt.-Gen. Wright became aware of this matter on August 6 and promptly directed it to military police for thorough examination.

He noted that such hateful acts threaten not only recruitment efforts but also undermine public confidence and operational credibility within Canada's armed forces.

“Canadian Army members who jeopardize that trust and participate in hateful conduct will face consequences for their actions,” he affirmed firmly.

This incident has reignited discussions among experts advocating for improved military screening processes to eliminate extremist influences effectively.

This summer saw another significant event when terror charges were leveled against certain Canadian Armed Forces personnel in Quebec over plans purportedly aimed at establishing an anti-government militia intent on land seizure-a case labeled by RCMP as reflecting “ideologically motivated violent extremism.”

The authorities confiscated what appears to be Canada’s largest cache ever seized in connection with terrorism: explosives, assault rifles, and substantial ammunition stockpile were discovered therein.

Cpl. Marc-Aurele Chabot along with Cpl. Matthew Forbes-both serving actively-as well as former soldiers Simon Angers-Audet and Raphael Lagace now face serious allegations related directly or indirectly towards extremist activities initiated within uniformed circles previously trusted implicitly.