Quebec terror suspects didn't get weapons stockpile from military: Canadian Forces

Montreal Gazette

14-07-2025

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Canada's military says the four military-linked men accused in an alleged terror plot did not get their weapons, ammunition and explosives from the Canadian Forces.
In a statement Monday morning, the Department of National Defence said the stockpile 'did not originate from the Canadian Armed Forces.'
The RCMP announced the arrest of the four men last week. They were scheduled to appear at a bail hearing in Quebec City on Monday.
Three of the men are accused of taking actions to 'facilitate terrorist activity' and planning to form an 'anti-government militia.' The fourth man also faces multiple charges, including weapons-related offences. A large cache of weapons, explosives and other military gear was seized.
The military on Monday provided more details about the four men.
Two of them — Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, and Matthew Forbes, 33 — are serving members of the Forces. They are based at CFB Valcartier, near Quebec City.
The Forces said Corporal Chabot enrolled in the Canadian Army as a reservist in June 2019, transferring to the regular force from the Voltigeurs de Québec to the 2e Bataillon, Royal 22e Régiment in July 2023. He was not deployed.
Forbes, who is a bombardier, enrolled in the Canadian Army in October 2016 and joined the 5e Régiment d'artillerie légère du Canada in November 2017. He was deployed to Operation CADENCE in 2018 and Operation REASSURANCE 2019.
'We can confirm that these individuals have not been performing military duties and do not have unescorted access to the military base,' the Forces said.
'At any time, should the integrity of a CAF member be called into question, various actions include restricting access to the base, weapons, and individuals' security clearances in addition to other administrative measures. The CAF continues to take this matter very seriously, and all options will be pursued and acted upon as appropriate.'
The two other men arrested were Simon Angers-Audet, 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25.
Angers-Audet, 24, enrolled in the Canadian Army as a reservist with the Voltigeurs de Québec in June 2019 and was released in May 2022 as a Private, the Defence Department said. He was not deployed.
Lagacé has not served as a member of the Canadian Armed Forces, but he was a civilian instructor with the 630 Royal Canadian Air Cadet Squadron in Beauport, Québec, between January 2021 and September 2024.
Investigators allege that Chabot, Angers-Audet and Lagacé facilitated terrorist activity and were planning to create a militia. Forbes faces charges including possession of firearms, prohibited devices and explosives, and possession of controlled items.
In the statement, the Defence Department said the military police and the Canadian Army 'continue to support the ongoing investigation led by the RCMP.'