Defence Minister Harjit Singh Sajjan is being accused of political meddling by a group which formed Canada’s first Sikh cadet regiment and was recently ousted as a sponsor.
According to the B.C. Supreme Court notice of civil claim, the Friends of the Sikh Cadets Society claims its agreement to fund the regiment was unilaterally terminated in June by the Army Cadet League of Canada.
The society claims the move was the result of a "conspiracy orchestrated and/or emanated" in part from Sajjan's office.
"The conspiracy was fuelled by rival Sikh factions aligned with Minister Sajjan which led to undue interference of the operations by the society and its ultimate ouster," the claim states.
"As a result of the conspiracy, the operations of the 3300 BCR British Columbia Regiment (Bhai Kanhaiya) are in disarray, leaving stranded dozens of teenagers and their parents in one of Canada's fastest growing cadet program(s)."
The society believes there were plans concocted to remove the society as the supporting sponsor of the 3300 RCACC, “fuelled by rival Sikh factions aligned with minister Sajjan, which led to undue interference of the operations by the society and its ultimate ouster.”
“As a result of this conspiracy, the operations of the 3300 BCR British Columbia Regiment (Bhai Kanhaiya) are in disarray, leaving stranded dozens of teenagers and their parents in one of Canada’s fastest -growing cadet program,” the suit reads.
The lawsuit also alleges the "conspiracy" led to a last-minute decision in April by the commander of Maritime Forces Pacific to decline the gift of a ceremonial sword at a Vaisakhi ceremony organized by members of the society.
"The order not to accept the sword was an insult to the Sikh community and made to show "that a new power" would be "taking over matters pertaining to the military participation in Sikh-related community celebration and the 3300 BCR British Columbia Regiment," the claim says.
The society is now seeking relief for damages of breach of contract, general and special damages, and costs.
Harbinder Singh Sewak, with the Friends of the Sikh Cadet Society, said that the society is willing to suspend their suit if an open inquiry is conducted into the Department of National Defence and the Army Cadet League’s handling of the 3300 RCACC sponsorship agreement.
“The sponsor committee is a group of volunteers dedicated to the operations and growth of the Sikh Cadets. The Army Cadet League, instead of helping and guiding us, has for some unknown reason decided it is best to get rid of us,” said Sewak in a statement.
A statement from Jordan Owens, a spokeswoman for Sajjan, doesn’t directly respond to the suit’s allegations, but notes the minister has “proudly worked to promote diversity throughout the Canadian Armed Forces.”
"Having served in the military, Minister Sajjan has great respect for the Chain of Command, and trusts them to make the decisions that have been delegated to them," Owens said.
