Face of Nation : An army reservist whose alleged links to a neo-Nazi group led to a raid on his rural Manitoba home last week has been fired, according to the Department of National Defence.
Master Cpl. Patrik Mathews, a member of the Winnipeg-based 38 Canadian Brigade Group, “will no longer be a participant in military activities in any form, and will not be returning to work,” a military spokesperson said.
The military and RCMP are investigating his alleged ties to The Base, an organization that promotes hate, for which he is alleged to have recruited. Posters for the group began popping up around Winnipeg in late July.
Mathews requested a release from the Canadian Armed Forces in April, according to the spokesperson. It is not known why. He was with the Forces for eight years, worked as a combat engineer and was trained in the use of explosives.
The RCMP raided Mathews’ home in Beausejour, Man. last week and seized multiple firearms. He has not been charged with a crime.Mubin Shaikh, a former CSIS analyst and counter-terrorism expert, says he wasn’t surprised by Mathews’ removal, and says the publicity surrounding the story might have contributed to the decision.
“The military is a favoured recruiting ground for white supremacists. It’s also a place where they’ve long since talked about obtaining training by joining the military,” Shaikh said. But this case also hands the military an opportunity to weed out extremists.
