(New Westminster) A Canadian army reservist has pleaded guilty to two counts of conduct to the prejudice of good order and discipline, in connection with videos posted on social media where he criticized the compulsory vaccination of soldiers against COVID-19.
At the opening of his court martial on Tuesday in New Westminster, British Columbia, Warrant Officer James Topp indicated that he was voluntarily pleading guilty to both charges. The maximum penalty provided for this count is “ignominious dismissal from the service of Her Majesty”.
The Vancouver reservist faced six charges under the National Defense Act for videos published in February 2022. In them, he criticized the mandatory vaccination decreed by the government for military personnel and federal employees.
Around a hundred soldiers voluntarily left the army due to this health requirement, while hundreds of others saw a permanent unfavorable note appear in their files.
Warrant Officer Topp, who was deployed to Bosnia and Afghanistan, has pleaded not guilty to charges of improperly wearing a uniform, and the prosecution told the hearing Tuesday that those charges would be dropped.
In videos, the soldier wore the uniform of the Princess Patricia’s Canadian Light Infantry regiment, where he had previously served.