OTTAWA — The Canadian military is scrambling to explain why a group of soldiers was issued weapons to march in a Toronto parade on Sunday for Canada's Sikh community. Photos and videos of the event show the soldiers, many of them turban-wearing Sikhs, marching in the Khalsa parade in military uniforms and carrying assault rifles, which the military says is not normally allowed. Karla Gimby, military spokeswomanThe only time service members can carry weapons in public is during certain military parades or demonstrations such as a tattoo, according to Canadian Army spokeswoman Karla Gimby. The Canadian Press Kids are photographed at the Khalsa Day parade, an event that celebrates the Sikh new year, at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on April 30, 2017. The army's top commander in Ontario, Brig.-Gen. Joe Paul, is following up with the unit and has issued additional orders prohibiting the carrying of weapons at similar events, Gimby said.

Source: Huffington Post May 01, 2019 11:48 UTC