Nova Scotia shooting: Inquest releases recording of stormy RCMP meeting


HALIFAX-

The Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry has released partial recordings of a tense RCMP meeting at the center of allegations of political interference in the police investigation into the massacre.

In recordings made April 28, 2020 – nine days after the killings – RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki says she understands police cannot release details about the make and model of each of the guns the shooter used to kill 22 people.

“I follow protocol regarding the retention of certain information to preserve the integrity of witnesses,” Lucki said during the conference call with senior officers and staff from Nova Scotia and Ottawa. “I went there. I was involved in these kinds of investigations.”

But she goes on to say she felt frustrated when she learned that speaking notes used for an RCMP press conference earlier today included no reference to semi-automatic and type assault.

“I felt completely disrespected by the fact that I was told that (RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell) was going to talk about firearms in his speaking notes, and it wasn’t there,” said Lucki said. “I don’t know what happened, but I think we have to do better.”

Lucki said publicly sharing basic facts about the weapons used was a request she received from a minister’s office, although she did not identify the minister.

“I flew it on the mast because it was a request I got from the minister’s office,” she said. “And I shared with the minister that actually it was going to be in the press releases, and it wasn’t.”

Although references to semi-automatic or assault weapons were not included in prepared remarks for Campbell, the senior constable did mention the description in response to a reporter’s question.

But that wasn’t enough for Lucki.

“What I don’t understand is that I was told there was a certain line that was going to be used, it ended up being used in a question…but I was expecting it be part of the narrative moving forward,” Lucki said. “And that was just by chance. If the question hadn’t been asked, nothing about the weapons would have been mentioned.”


Campbell’s handwritten notes of the meeting with Lucki, released on June 21, sparked allegations of political interference because they said Lucki had assured Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair and the Prime Minister’s Office that the RCMP would release firearms information in an effort to support the government’s expectation. gun control legislation.

Lucki and Blair denied that any political pressure had been exerted before the meeting in question.

But it’s clear from the tapes that the legislation was on Lucki’s mind.

“Does anyone realize what’s going on in the world of handguns and firearms right now?” Lucki asked those on the call.

“The fact that they’re trying to get legislation through, the fact that the legislation is supposed to help the police.”


This report from The Canadian Press was first published on October 20, 2022.