Military whistleblower calls on Conservatives to demand probe of torture video reports

The former soldier who blew the whistle on alleged torture videos involving Iraqi security forces who were trained by Canadian troops has made a direct appeal to Opposition Leader Pierre Pollievre.

In a letter, retired sergeant Mike MacInnis called on the Conservatives to push for a follow-up investigation into how the military handled his warnings.

He said his efforts to get the attention of the Canadian Armed Forces and the Department of National Defence have led nowhere.

"The matter needs to be appropriately investigated in order to uphold the values we hold dear as Canadians," MacInnis wrote in the letter, delivered to Pollievre's office in mid-December.

"As a former member of the armed forces, I firmly believe in the importance of accountability and justice. It is deeply troubling to witness the erosion of these principles within our own ranks and government.

"The failure to address and intervene in such grave offences not only undermines the credibility of our military and nation, at home and abroad, but also compromises the safety and well-being of our personnel."

MacInnis was a Canadian Forces team leader on a mission to train Iraqi security forces near Mosul in northern Iraq in 2018. He said that some of the recruits showed him and other Canadian trainers cellphone videos depicting the torture, rape and summary execution of suspected Islamic State militants and their supporters.

Under international law, Canada was obligated to report the concerns of soldiers on the ground. A CBC News investigation revealed last month that the Iraqi government was not notified of the alleged torture videos until 2021 — after the issue went public.

"The Canadian government failed to disclose this information for three years to the Iraqi government, and only did so after it received media attention, and more importantly, at the behest of the Iraqi ambassador," MacInnis wrote in the letter, dated December 11.

"Iraq has laws against murder and rape within their country and they possess a professional law enforcement agency capable of criminal investigation."

The failure of the Canadian government "to provide timely disclosure," MacInnis added, "portrays an impassive disregard for justice, depriving the host nation of the opportunity to due process, and denying awareness to the international community." 

Two requests for comment sent to the Conservative leader's office over several days went unanswered.

Conservative defence critic James Bezan raised concerns in the House of Commons in 2021 about the case, before MacInnis came forward publicly last fall.

In an exclusive interview with CBC News in November, MacInnis said that Canadian troops instructed trainees they suspected of having committed war crimes and were ordered to supply them with weapons and personal protective equipment.