AoS said:
I've heard this from many people, and on the forums. Plus I don't know if this is true or not, but I heard MPs went around to a few surplus stores near CF bases an seized all the issue CADPAT they had.
If you don't know for sure, you shouldn't be saying anything. I don't know if CADPAT is different due to the Secret Squirrel IR Coating, but the regs used to read that anyone could wear CF clothing (if they were dorky enough to want to be seen in public with it), however, they could not wear CF insignia on it. A dork I went to high school with got taken aside at an air show by an MP; the CF green flightsuit he was wearing (he was a civvie spectator) was okay, but the CANADA flashes were not.
Wearing combats is not against any regulations I know of, however, wearing insignia IS.
There are also common sense restrictions (and possibly regulations, a search of the forum will yield the correct answer) regarding the utilization of issued military kit when off duty. Obviously officially frowned on, however, if that kit is private purchased, there isn't much anyone can do about it. Medals, decorations and insignia are a different matter.
FWIW a friend of mine on civvie street had a full set of CADPAT before I was ever issued mine - about a year before. Surplus stores do have to be accountable, and most will inform the MPs if they suspect stolen items are being sold off. IMPs used to be a popular item in Calgary. CADPAT these days is much more desirable than the faded OG combats (though cadets used to buy the OGs on a regular basis, too when it was all anyone had).
The way to tell if something is genuinely surplussed off is to look for the tag; surplus items are supposed to have the tags removed.