CFB Valcartier's possible ties with far-right group investigated

Military police have opened an investigation into potential links between military personnel at CFB Valcartier near Quebec City and a far-right Facebook group.

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The group, called "Table Rase," which translates as "Clean Slate," features quotations on its Facebook page from historical figures and politicians promoting anti-Semitic views. Others put forward notions of racial purity.

Under Quebec's business registry, "Table Rase" is registered by Guillaume Bélanger.

Sources have told CBC that Bélanger is associated with the military. His LinkedIn page says he is soldier with the Canadian Armed Forces.

Bélanger didn't respond to interview requests on Friday and by the end of the day the Facebook page had been taken down.

In one photo on the page, Adrien Arcand, a Montreal journalist who led a series of fascist political movements in Quebec, is quoted as saying the biggest catastrophe of modern time was the defeat of Germany in 1945, because it led to the downfall of traditions and family values.

There are also photos and videos posted on another Facebook group, which show "Table Rase" posters pinned to the wall at the CFB Valcartier gym.

The group is run by Alexandre Norman, a soldier who gives courses on using "tomahawks" — or axes — in combat.

Links between "Table Rase" and military personnel were first reported by Montreal's La Presse newspaper.

'Completely unacceptable'

Steven Slimovitch, national legal counsel for B'nai Brith, a group that fights anti-Semitism, said the military should take these possible links seriously.

"This group should not have access to any government facility, and the soldiers who have exhibited this kind of behaviour, they have to be disciplined," Slimovitch said.

"The government has to send the message that this kind of behaviour is completely unacceptable, especially, especially in the military."

The Canadian Forces said in a statement that "racist attitudes are totally incompatible with the military ethos and with effective military service, and any conduct that reflects such attitudes will not be tolerated."

The investigation launched by the military police is ongoing.