Question Period Note: Nova Scotia Shooting Incident

Update on the RCMP’s role regarding the Mass Casualty Commission.

• Any information related to the progress of the Mass Casualty Commission needs to come directly from the Commission.

• The RCMP will respectfully refrain from further commenting on these matters outside of the Inquiry.

• The RCMP has created a Special Project Team working with Justice Canada counsel to coordinate the RCMP responses to the Mass Casualty Commission.

• The RCMP recognizes the importance of providing a full, factual accounting of what happened prior to and during the mass casualty event for the victims’ families and the public.

• The RCMP supports the Mass Casualty Commission in its mandate and is cooperating fully with the Inquiry.

On April 18 and 19, 2020, several shooting incidents occurred at multiple locations in Nova Scotia, resulting in the deaths of 22 innocent people. Three (3) people were also injured. Some of those who lost their lives did so while trying to save others. They are heroes. This tragedy includes the on-duty death of RCMP Constable Heidi Stevenson, who was responding to the shooting. Another RCMP member, Constable Chad Morrison, was shot and suffered non-life-threatening injuries.

The investigation has revealed that Gabriel Wortman was the sole gunman. Three (3) individuals, including his common law spouse, have been charged for their role in purchasing ammunition for Gabriel Wortman, prior to the mass casualty event. Those charges are currently before the courts. Another incident took place at the Onslow Belmont Fire Brigade hall, whereby two (2) RCMP members discharged their firearms towards a civilian, who they mistook for the gunman.

On October 21, 2020, federal and provincial orders-in-council established terms of reference for a joint federal-provincial public inquiry (subsequently known as the Mass Casualty Commission [MCC]) to examine and provide a report, including recommendations to government, regarding the mass shootings in Nova Scotia of April 18-19, 2020. The MCC’s mandate is to:
- establish what happened leading up to, during and after the mass casualty event;
- review certain defined issues that provide context to understand why and how the mass
casualty event occurred; and,
- produce a report that includes these findings, lessons and resulting recommendations to help keep Canadian communities safer in the future.

The RCMP has established a project team (HSTRONG II) that is coordinating the collection and disclosure, through Justice Canada, of relevant materials in the RCMP’s possession relating to the mass shooting and circumstances leading up to it. The MCC has issued subpoenas, as a standard practice, to various departments and agencies from which they require information.

The HSTRONG II Project Team facilitates the MCC’s engagement with RCMP witnesses, and ensures those witnesses are provided appropriate support throughout the inquiry process. The Project Team will also identify areas within the police response to this tragedy that may require further examination and possible action by the RCMP, whether from a training, policy, procedural, resourcing or equipment perspective. The Project Team also provides support for the RCMP’s involvement in workplace safety investigations being undertaken pursuant to the Canada Labour Code by the internal Hazardous Occurrence Investigation Team (HOIT) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The MCC has created several Foundational Documents to share key facts and events about the mass casualty event. The participants are being consulted on the contents of the Foundational Documents and will have the opportunity to present feedback during working meetings. When the hearings start, the Foundational Documents will be entered as evidence. The current MCC schedule, which has recently been revised to allow participants more time to review the Foundational Documents, is as follows:
- Working meetings from November 15 until December 9, 2021, to review disclosure and the Foundational Documents.
- Opening proceedings on January 25 and 26, 2022, leading into the public hearings until May 2022.
- The hearings are when the facts of what happened will be shared with the public in a comprehensive way.
- The MCC still plans to release an interim report in May 2022 and the final report in November 2022.

Every effort is being made to use a trauma-informed approach with all involved, including RCMP members and employees. The RCMP will continue to fully support the MCC and will provide a full accounting of the events. The RCMP knows the victims’ families, their friends and the public want answers.

The RCMP has, and continues to share the information it can with the families through designated liaisons, as well as the coordinated investigative team.

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