Unlike most blindsided victims of a cancel-culture mob who apologize for speaking truth then run, retired Lt.-Gen. Michel Maisonneuve refuses to retreat. He stands by everything he said in a powerful speech that addressed contentious issues, including cancel culture and an ailing military..“I’m going to keep defending my remarks, defending the truth that I think exists today, and those who want to come out and tell the truth,” Maisonneuve told the Western Standard in an exclusive interview..Maisonneuve challenged “egregious fabrications.” Half-truths, omissions, and lies are tools utilized by cancel-culture enthusiasts and biased media, to discredit targets and deflect attention from truth. “There were things attributed to me that didn’t make sense. I have to clarify some of this stuff..Maisonneuve is “astonished” at how his words were distorted..He didn’t trash Canada. He didn’t say military victims of sexual abuse don’t deserve an apology. He didn’t deny the mistreatment of First Nations people. He didn’t condemn the leadership of Chief of the Defence Staff Gen. Wayne Eyre. But he’s been accused of all that..His remarks on November 9, when he was awarded the Vimy Award recognizing a lifetime of service, earned him a standing ovation. They also got him cancelled..Maisonneuve was forced to resign from the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence for Canadian Veterans (CPCoE.).His expertise would have benefited hundreds of hurting veterans. But wounded feelings prevailed over wounded soldiers. The woke pounced. And the weak buckled. Saying what many Canadians think, military and civilian alike, had a price — and a reward..Maisonneuve challenged serving members..“Be prepared to serve our country and be proud to do so. And our leaders must share that vision,” he said..Copies of the speech spread like wildfire..Maisonneuve ruffled some feathers politically and within the ranks. One message sums up the avalanche of support Maisonneuve received from troops invigorated by his words. A master corporal serving abroad responded: “Message Sir. Message received. Challenge accepted. Well done Sir.”.They understood what he meant when he said Canada’s military is “woefully underfunded, undermanned, and under-appreciated.”.But he praised the “greatest country in the world” expressing belief in its ability to “fix what ails” it with “leadership, service, unity and courage.” That was mostly ignored..Maisonneuve did criticize leaders who divide rather than unite, climate-change policies, the removal of historic statues, and an apologetic society catering to perceived victims. The day after he received his award, the CPCoE was “excited” to announce Maisonneuve who “brings invaluable experience and insight to our organization” was appointed Campaign Cabinet Chair..Then on November 25, the CPCoE announced it had asked Maisonneuve to resign, informing him it was a board decision. No reason was offered to him, or to the public..No veterans in the CPCoE, since bombarded with objections, supported this. The call for his resignation “surprised” Maisonneuve..“I was exercising my freedom of speech. I was not speaking on behalf of the Chronic Pain Centre of Excellence.”.He has nothing but praise for the CPCoE..“They do excellent work. It was an honour to work with them. I’ve been with them since the beginning. I just hope they’ll continue their work.”.“Their mission is more important than my ego or whatever. Their work is more important than anything.”.The CPCoE does research on pain medication and new ways of treating veterans. It has several treatment clinics in Canada serving hundreds of veterans, including in Quebec, thanks to Maisonneuve..Why turf him?.The CPCoE reacted to one complaint from a female veteran who concluded Maisonneuve said victims of sexual abuse in the military didn’t deserve an apology..It was a ridiculous stretch acted on by cowardly CPCoE board members — some who were among the 600 attendees that heard Maisonneuve’s every word..“I never, ever said that. There has been military sexual trauma. There are perpetrators in every organization, our military included. I think they ought to be prosecuted.”.What he did say was: “Where cancel culture still flourishes and there is no call for redaction or amendment even when accusations are proved false, truth is not a requirement; once cancelled, you are done.”.Maisonneuve maintains accusations must be proven, the presumption of innocence is a “fundamental principle” of Canadian law, as is due process..Accusations are a “guilty verdict” with no recourse for the innocent. That contravenes the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, he said..“I want to make sure that there’s another side to every story. There have also been thousands of women who have been treated very well by men in the military.”.The Vimy Award is presented by the Defence Associations Institute to Canadians who make an outstanding contribution to the defence and security of Canada, and the preservation of democratic values..Some charged that Maisonneuve offended defence contractors. That’s a hollow claim considering he said Canada needs to spend more on military state-of-the art-tools and equipment, which would benefit them..“Frankly, I doubt that would be the case. I can’t speak for them. Somebody would have to explain to me how I did that.”.Some said his comments about the needs — primarily equipment and training — not properly met by the Liberal government would harm harmed the military..“I served in the Canadian Forces. I knew how much we were strapped in my day. Things haven’t changed. The Chief of the Defence Staff has said we’re in a reconstitution mode right now.”.Maisonneuve criticized changes to military dress regulations allowing personal choice in hair color, beards, and uniforms. This was implemented under Eyre. But he didn’t criticize his leadership..“This was simply not true. I respect Wayne Eyre. He’s a fantastic guy, great leader. I support him. But he’s in a very difficult position.”.Eyre is faced with leading a culture of change in the CAF, recruiting to bring the CAF to full complement, and overseeing ongoing and new operational commitments and strategies..“He’s got operational capacity for so much. When you ask him to do something new, he has to take what he’s doing right and say OK, what am I going to stop doing?’”.“He’s a good military guy. He’s going to say ‘Yes sir, yes, ma’am.’ He’s going to organize his forces and do as much as he can with what he’s got.”.Maisonneuve said it’ll take a decade to replenish equipment, personnel, and training..His speech addressed the disappearance of “personal responsibility,” the “collective apologies” that flourish..“Individuals and groups fight over who gets to wear the coveted victims’ cloak. But any role they may have played in their own fate or in injuring others is dismissed as learned behaviour, inherited flaws, or generational oppression.”.He was accused of denying the mistreatment of First Nations peoples. Maisonneuve believes the apologies delivered by governments, Pope Francis, and churches were deserved..But he said it is time for apologies to be replaced with promises kept — like clean drinking water. The “broken moral contract” between peoples and Canadian society must be “fixed.”.His work with CPCoE veterans to whom Canada “owes a great debt for fighting under its flag” was cancelled. But Maisonneuve won’t abandon veterans..“I’m going to continue to advocate for them. I’ve been contacted already by organizations to see if I can help. There are many veterans who are wounded mentally and physically.”.“My remarks were not meant to harm anybody. They were meant to be a positive reinforcement of the needs for veterans. It was to begin a respectful dialogue on huge issues that Canada faces today that we should be putting on the table a discussing respectfully.”.“Nobody has come back to me and said I don’t agree with your remarks and here’s why, bang, bang, bang, bang. Nobody’s giving me arguments and facts. I’d be happy to respond to those. That’s the dialogue we need to have.”.It’s easier to launch anonymous silly attacks. Someone called him a fascist and said “go beat your wife.” Another wrote “Let’s meet and I’ll fold you in half and stuff you in your uniform.’”.Maisonneuve served 35-years and retired with a distinguished, unblemished record and many medals. For 15 years since, he’s continued to fight to preserve democracy, free speech and help veterans..But he was punished for speaking truth. Cancelled. What shoddy treatment of a great Canadian who served — and will continue to serve — well.
