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A former sergeant with the Canadian Armed Forces is suing the federal government for nearly $3 million, alleging unfair treatment after he reported the killing and targeting of civilians during the war in Afghanistan.

Claude Lepage spent 22 years in the Canadian Armed Forces, including as a member of a special unit known as Joint Task Force 2. But his career ended on a sour note, culminating in a “mandatory” medical release in 2012.

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The lawsuit filed in Quebec Superior Court on Oct. 8 alleges the ex-soldier’s rights were violated after he told his chain of command about the “execution of Afghan civilians” by members of his unit and by a foreign government agency between 2005 and 2008 during the Afghanistan war.

“In addition, having been forced to retire from the Canadian Armed Forces due to the unfair and discriminatory handling of his case, (Lepage) is seeking damages as the mandatory medical release process has been subject to gross misconduct, discrimination, stigmatization and negligence on the part of the (federal government).”

The lawsuit alleges that in 2006 Lepage witnessed a Canadian soldier fire five bullets into an unarmed civilian who had his arms raised. Lepage says he reported the “execution” to his chain of command but claims the ensuing internal investigation did not take the allegation seriously.

The statement of claim says Lepage personally witnessed several more civilian deaths in January 2008 when a foreign government...

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