A former soldier and reservist who defied the Canadian Armed Forces’ COVID-19 vaccine mandate has been fined $4,000 and obtained a extreme reprimand on the conclusion of a courtroom martial in British Columbia.
Warrant Officer James Topp pleaded responsible to 2 prices of conduct to the bias of excellent order and self-discipline in relation to 2 movies he posted to social media criticizing the army’s vaccine coverage.
Military decide Cmdr. Julie Deschenes informed the courtroom martial that the sentence is honest and match, noting that Topp took duty for his actions and is taking steps to get his life so as.
She mentioned she believed Topp was in a state of despair in February 2022 when he made the movies and launched into public protests.
Topp is a 52-year-old reservist and former Armed Forces soldier with greater than 30 years of service in a number of deployments to Croatia, Afghanistan and different conflict zones.
He informed the courtroom martial this week that he was near suicide in November 2021 after being suspended from his federal public service job with the RCMP whereas he was dealing with prices for his anti-vaccine stance.
Deschenes mentioned the case was not about private views and positions concerning the COVID-19 vaccine, however about Topp’s breach of his duties as a member of the army.
“You have admitted that making the broadcasts and the statements as a member of the CAF (Canadian Armed Forces) in uniform was wrong,” she mentioned. “Now you face the consequences.”
