Top general says military started dealing with suspected neo-Nazi in the spring
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OTTAWA — Defence chief Gen. Jonathan Vance says the military first became aware of a Manitoba reservist’s alleged links to a neo-Nazi group in the spring and were investigating him in earnest weeks before media reported on the matter.
The comments mark the first time Canada’s top general has spoken about MCpl. Patrik Mathews.
Vance says the military’s counter-intelligence unit was first alerted to Mathews in April, at which point the combat engineer with the 38 Canadian Brigade Group in Winnipeg met with local commanders.
The defence chief says Mathews subsequently applied to leave the Forces even as military officials launched an investigation into his activities — a probe Vance says was underway by July, weeks before the Winnipeg Free Press published a story about the reservist.
