By Canadian Press

Army reservist relieved of military duties over alleged links to neo-Nazis

Aug 28, 2019 | 6:13 AM

OTTAWA — The Canadian military is relieving a Manitoba army reservist of his duties and speeding up his request to leave the Armed Forces following allegations he is a member of a neo-Nazi group.

The Department of National Defence says Master Cpl. Patrik Mathews will no longer participate in military activities in any form or return to work and will officially leave the Forces in the coming weeks.

In a statement, the department says the measures were deemed necessary considering the seriousness of the allegations and the risk to unit morale and cohesion.

Mathews had applied to leave the Forces in April, but came under the spotlight last week after a Winnipeg Free Press story linked the combat engineer with the 38 Canadian Brigade Group in Winnipeg to a neo-Nazi group called the Base.

Defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance later said Mathews had been under formal military investigation weeks earlier while the RCMP is also reportedly conducting its own probe.

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No arrests or charges have been laid and the Defence Department says their investigation is ongoing.

The Canadian Press