Canada’s top general broke down and apologized for “systemic racism” in her own army—admitting that racial bias crippled military effectiveness and morale. That moment of public contrition, delivered with tears in the nation’s capital, lays bare the corrosive influence of woke ideology on a once-proud fighting force.
General Jennie Carignan declared that First Nations, Inuit, Métis, Black, Asian and other racialized Canadians faced “barriers that limited their ability to serve, contribute and thrive.” She owned the failure, called out “silence and indifference,” and vowed to wage a “sustained institutional effort” to root out bias at every level.
This spectacle of self-flagellation undermines confidence in command. No one doubts that discrimination must be punished—but turning an army into a theater of apology shifts focus from combat readiness to culture wars. What kind of message does this send to adversaries watching Canada’s defenses weaken under the weight of identity politics?
Social media erupted in scorn. One commentator labeled the apology “very, very weak,” arguing it made Canada “an easy target.” Another quipped he wouldn’t “trust her to defend my kitchen pantry.” Critics charged that the country’s highest-ranking officer appeared more concerned with virtue signaling than warfighting.
Indeed, while Canada’s generals bow to the altar of diversity, the United States is reasserting its singular purpose: prepare for, and win, wars. In September, Secretary of the Army Pete Hegseth issued an uncompromising mandate—no more DEI offices, no more ideological baggage. He ordered his department to rip out political correctness and “return to warfighting, preparing for war, and preparing to win.”
That stark contrast highlights two paths. One embraces self-criticism and internal reckoning at the expense of focus. The other silences distraction and doubles down on mission. Canada has chosen the former; the U.S. Army chose the latter.
This division didn’t emerge overnight. Ottawa’s shift leftward has accelerated for years. In 2017, Parliament labeled criticism of Islam as “Islamophobia,” effectively punishing free speech. By 2023, the federal government rolled out a “Black Justice Strategy” to address alleged systemic racism across all sectors. Each initiative chips away at meritocracy and unites the nation around grievance.
The CAF apology is just the latest bow to identity politics. Under its new directive, commanders will track race, enforce sensitivity training, and expand DEI programs. The result is predictably bureaucratic: more paperwork, more committees, and less time for live-fire exercises.
Contrast that with Hegseth’s order: “We are done with that s***,” he declared, promising no more “social justice, politically correct, toxic ideological garbage.” His words may offend the woke establishment—but they restore clarity of purpose. An army’s sole duty is to defend its country, not to calculate quotas or conduct feel-good seminars.
Canada’s military brass should take notice. Bowing and apologizing may pacify activist demands, but it emboldens rivals and demoralizes troops. Soldiers fight based on discipline, training, and confidence in leadership—not guilt trips or endless diversity workshops.
If Ottawa’s commanders truly want a “healthy, respectful, and inclusive workplace,” they must first ensure the military can defend its borders. Inclusion is vital—but only when it enhances, not undermines, combat effectiveness. The United States shows the way by eliminating distractions and refocusing on the mission.
Let Canada’s contrite apology stand as a cautionary tale. When national security becomes hostage to identity politics, every soldier loses—and every potential foe gains. The question now: will Canada reverse course, or continue down the path of self-flagellation, leaving its citizens less safe and its army less capable?
