Armed forces needs to strengthen screening to weed out extremists: expert

By Canadian Press on July 9, 2025.

OTTAWA — An expert in extremism says recent arrests linked to an alleged plot to create an anti-government militia show the Canadian Armed Forces needs to do a better job of vetting at the recruitment stage.

University of Alberta political science professor Andy Knight says the fact that two of the four men charged Tuesday in relation to an alleged anti-government plot are active members of the military shows the Canadian Armed Forces isn’t doing enough to screen out extremists.

He says extremism within the forces needs to be “explored and stamped out as soon as possible” so it doesn’t fester and spread.

Knight conducted research for the Department of National Defence that uncovered racist and extremist beliefs among some military members.

RCMP announced charges against four men Tuesday over an alleged plot to forcibly take possession of land in the Quebec City area.

The cache of weapons seized by police during the investigation is the largest ever uncovered in a domestic terrorism case.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 9, 2025.

Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press