Question Period Note: Nova Scotia Shooting Incident

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

• The RCMP supports the Mass Casualty Commission’s mandate and it is our hope that this independent inquiry will provide a full accounting of what happened for the families of the victims and the public.

• The RCMP has a team that coordinates the collection and disclosure of subpoena materials, through Justice Canada, to the Mass Casualty Commission, facilitates engagement of the Commission with RCMP witnesses, and ensures those witnesses are provided appropriate support throughout the inquiry process.

• The RCMP continues to support the hundreds of employees who responded to the incidents and carried out the H-Strong investigation.

• We have confidence in the training, professionalism and bravery of our employees who responded to this unprecedented event.

• The RCMP continues to examine areas that may require further examination and possible action, whether from a training, policy, procedural, resourcing or equipment perspective.

On April 18-19, 2020, several shooting incidents occurred at multiple locations in Nova Scotia (NS), resulting in the deaths of 22 people, including the on-duty death of RCMP Constable (Cst.) Heidi Stevenson. Three people were also injured, including RCMP Cst. Chad Morrison. Another incident took place at the Onslow Belmont Fire Brigade hall when two RCMP members discharged their firearms towards a civilian they mistook for the gunman. No injuries resulted from this incident and an investigation was conducted by the independent Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team. No charges followed the investigation.

The investigation has revealed that Gabriel Wortman was the sole 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.

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 “Foundational Documents” to share key facts and events about the mass casualty event. The participants were consulted on the contents of the Foundational Documents and have provided feedback on them. Since the public proceedings started on February 22, 2022, 18 Foundational Documents have been entered as evidence and posted on the MCC public website along with source materials used to create the documents. To date, the RCMP has disclosed over 67,000 items, through Justice Canada, to the MCC, including; the entire mass shooting investigative file, over 500 RCMP policies, and training materials from hundreds of RCMP courses. The RCMP has also facilitated on site visits and examination of physical evidence by MCC investigators. In addition to the subpoenas, the RCMP has responded to many more informal requests for information or follow-ups to provide clarity on the materials. The MCC released an interim report on May 2, 2022. There were no findings of fact and no recommendations with regards to any of the information that has been provided to the MCC to date. The report states: “It would be premature to do so as we continue to build our evidentiary record and try to understand how and why the mass casualty happened.”

The MCC is required to submit its final report no later than November 1, 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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