OTTAWA, Ont. — Military police have charged a colonel for allegedly making derogatory comments about the Canadian Forces leadership.
National Defence issued a news release Monday stating that on April 23 military Police charged Col. Robert Kearney, assistant chief of staff, at the Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in Innsworth, United Kingdom.
Kearney faces five counts of Conduct Prejudice to the Good Order and Discipline pursuant to section 129 of the National Defence Act, according to the news release from the department and the Canadian Forces Provost Marshal.
The news release stated that on November 29 th , 2023, the military police received a complaint of a senior Canadian Forces officer “allegedly making derogatory and disloyal comments about Senior CAF and NATO members.”
The first offence allegedly occurred in December of 2021 and four subsequent offences ranged from January 2023 to November 2023. The offences are alleged to have taken place in the United Kingdom and in Romania, according to National Defence.
This case will now proceed through the military justice system but National Defence and the Canadian Forces did not provide any additional information.
Kearney had previously raised concerns about Canada’s military leaders in 2022 after serving senior Canadian military officers gave a standing ovation to a speech by a retired general who criticized everything from the removal of historical statues to government climate change policies.
Retired Lt.-Gen. Michel Maisonneuve made the controversial speech while accepting a top defence award from the Conference of Defence Associations Institute.
Kearney was one of the few military officers taking issue with the speech. He wrote on Facebook that the Vimy Gala “was sullied with arrogance, entitlement, and not in keeping with the humility & spirit of the event. I hope that folks that have worn/wear the uniform, past & present, will not think that all senior leaders support the hubris & arrogance displayed, over being humble, appreciative, and showing humility in such a forum. I also hope that more senior folks, (retired & serving), will speak out in the future. Canada deserves better.”
Kearney has not commented at this time about the charges he faces.
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