OTTAWA | More than a thousand soldiers refuse to be vaccinated against COVID-19 and may therefore have to put their uniforms back on, according to data obtained by Le Journal.
A total of 1,326 members of the Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) had requested exemption from the coronavirus vaccination as of May 10, 2022, National Defense reports.
A total of 157 of them obtained an exemption for religious, medical or other reasons, but 146 were asked to leave the ranks between November 2021 and May 2022. While 101 others simply resigned.
For all the others, administrative reviews and corrective measures are in progress, since they do not respect the orders of the chain of command. Eventually, everyone may have to put their uniform back on.
"While not all administrative reviews lead to a release from the CAF, the possibility exists," said National Defense spokeswoman Jessica Lamirande.
The Trudeau government announced mandatory vaccination for the federal public service on August 13, 2021. Although not forced to do so, the military followed suit.
Most members complied: “Over 95% of eligible CAF members received at least two doses of the vaccine. Additionally, 64% of eligible CAF members have already received their third dose,” said Lamirande.
Growls in the ranks
However, some did not hesitate to express their discontent, even joining the movement of truckers and organizations such as Mounties for Freedom or Police on Guard for Thee, groups of agents and soldiers, active or past, opposed to the measures sanitary.
In February, a major attached to the military base in Gagetown, New Brunswick, Stephen Chledowski, even made a statement in uniform on YouTube calling on his colleagues to stand up against "the medical tyranny of the government".
Lack of arms
Vaccination-related departures occur even as the Forces are increasingly in demand. Pandemic, natural disasters, geopolitical tensions, "our country faces growing threats in all areas," Chief of Staff Wayne Eyre said Monday.
However, according to figures obtained by Le Journal in April, there are more than 10,000 men and women in uniform to ensure our defense.
So the lack of arms is an "existential crisis" that threatens national security, according to General Eyre.
UNVACCINED MILITARY
157 accommodations:
Source: Canadian Armed Forces
