The Royal Canadian Air Force is investigating whether a Warrant Officer breached code of conduct rules after accusing Ontario Premier Doug Ford of “trying to sell out” Ontario to “the fascists in the U.S.”
Jo-Anne Wiseman, an actively serving CAF member, posted an AI-generated image of Ford at a hockey game wearing a “Trump 51” jersey–a nod to U.S. President Donald Trump’s repeated claims that Canada will become the 51st state.
“#FordMustGo #NeverVoteConservative #OntarioElection. Regardless if this is AI or not, Doug Ford has continuously shown us his true colours,” Wiseman said in the post. “He’s a Trumper, who is trying to sell out Ontario to the fascists in the US. #NeverTrustaCONservative.”
All CAF members must adhere to the Queen’s Regulations and Orders, which set strict guidelines on professional conduct. Wiseman’s posts were seemingly in breach of Volume 1, Chapter 19, Section 1, 19.14 and Section 2, 19.44.
The regulation prohibits officers from saying or doing anything that could “bring discredit to the Canadian Forces or its members.” The regulations also restrict certain political activities to ensure the military remains politically neutral.
A Department of National Defence representative told True North that the matter was under investigation and confirmed that Wiseman is an actively serving member of the CAF.
“The CAF takes matters of professional conduct seriously and will address this situation in accordance with our policies. Any conduct found to be inconsistent with our values and ethical standards will be dealt with appropriately,” DND representative Andrée-Anne Poulin told True North. “We remain committed to fostering a culture of professionalism, accountability, and respect among all members.”
A March 2023 Canadian Forces Base Kingston Facebook post lauded Sergeant Jo-Anne Wiseman’s over 27 years of service in the CAF. According to the post, she served 14 and a half years in the Primary Reserve Army and 13 more in the RCAF.
At the time of the post, she was the Regiment Chief Human Resources Administrator for the 77 Line Regiment. The DND did not respond to True North’s requests to confirm Wiseman’s current rank and role in CAF before the time of publishing this article.
“While the CAF does not actively monitor the personal social media accounts of its members, all personnel are expected to exercise good judgment and adhere to our established guidelines on professional military conduct,” the DND representative said. “This includes maintaining appropriate behaviour both on and off social media.”
It said that social networks and online comment sections constitute public forums and as such posts like Wisemans are a “lasting part of the public record.”
“CAF members are responsible for ensuring that their online activity—whether on duty or off—does not bring discredit to the CAF, compromise its reputation, or undermine the confidence of those who work with us,” the DND said. “A formal investigation is set to take place to determine a way forward.”
Wiseman did not respond to True North’s requests for comment. Since being contacted, she appears to have either deleted her social media accounts or set them to private.