Canadian Armed Forces veteran James Topp said he's confused why it took so long for the Department of National Defence (DND) to announce charges against him that he knew were in place months ago. .Topp, a reservist in the Canadian forces and an RCMP employee now on administrative leave for his stance on the vaccination mandates, said he was aware of the charges against him by the DND less than a week after he posted a video on social media denouncing the vaccine mandates within the military and for all federal workers. .The DND on Thursday told the Western Standard Topp is "facing two charges under the National Defence Act section 129, Conduct to the Prejudice of Good Order and Discipline, in relation to making public comments criticizing the Government of Canada policies.".Members of the CAF "must remain impartial when communicating publicly."."I am curious why it took so long for the DND to make a public announcement," Topp told the Western Standard..Topp said the timing was strange and highlighted the "current media landscape" but indicated he did not want to speculate on why the announcement came out on Thursday when we was made aware of the charges against him in February. .The DND announced the charges on Thursday, nearly three months after Topp posted a video on social media on February 13 where he was seen in uniform while speaking out against the vaccine mandates..Topp is currently marching across Canada in protest of the vaccine mandates with a goal to "have a conversation with MPs in Ottawa." .He began his protest march in Vancouver in on February 20 with the intention of arriving at Parliament Hill in June. ."Based on our rate of travel, our arrival target range is the last week of June," said Topp while walking on Thursday in a phone conversation with the Western Standard..As of Thursday evening, Topp was approximately 35 km east of Kenora, Ontario. He said he has sent a request to all MPs and Senators asking for an opportunity to have an open dialogue. ."I'm not marching to Parliament Hill with a list of demands, but with agenda items that are points of dialogue," said Topp, indicating he has received a response from five MPs who have agreed to meet with him, but was unable to name them during the conversation. ."There has been a huge divide created in Canada because of these policies and I want to communicate with our representatives to let them know what is happening under the surface for many Canadians." .Topp said he has a "clear conscience" and does not regret his choices and "would do it over again.".He said his first stop when he arrives in Ottawa will be the the National War Memorial. .The Justice Centre for Constitutional Freedoms is representing Topp and other soldiers facing discipline and possible job loss over mandatory COVID-19 vaccine policies implemented by the federal government and military..Topp created a website with updates on his march that includes his reasoning behind his decision to begin the march and ways the public can support him.
