The appropriateness of the military conducting a rally of any sort at the seat of the national government was apparently never discussed.
Groups rally on Parliament Hill to lobby government. In a democratic state it is wholly inappropriate for the military, whether in uniform or out, to conduct any such demonstration - even if the avowed intent is not to lobby government.
I'm certain that the fine folks at JAG have perused QR&O chapter 19, and have decided that this rally does not fall afoul of QR&O 19.44 ( 8 ). But it still marks a departure from the norm: that the military should only be present at the seat of government when invited to be there (such as the Changing of the Guard, or ceremonial gun salutes).
As individuals, CF members hold most of the same rights as any other Canadian citizens. But as a formed group there are additional restrictions; descending en masse on the seat of national government may not be excluded in writing, but is definitely excluded in practice and history.
Rally at the site of the War Museum? Completely appropriate. Major's Hill Park? Certainly. But not the "force of last resort" rallying at the seat of government.
***Edited to remove smiley that replaced the 8 in the QR&O reference
