Review of mass shooting in Nova Scotia to be conducted by three-person panel

HALIFAX – Ottawa and Nova Scotia announced on Thursday a three-person panel to review the mass shooting that left 22 victims dead in April, though it will not be a fully public process.

Interim and final reports will be presented next year to federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and provincial Justice Minister Mark Furey before being made public.

“Many people have, quite rightfully, asked for a comprehensive review of how such a tragic event could have taken place. They want to know about all the circumstances that led to it and perhaps most importantly, they want to know what we must do to make sure that it does not happen again,” Blair said Thursday.

An interim report is scheduled for February, the final report due by August 31st, 2021 #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) July 23, 2020

“Their review will include a comprehensive look into the causes, context, and the circumstances that gave rise to the terrible and tragic events that took place in April of this year. It will include an examination of law enforcement responses and the steps taken to communicate with the community to support and engage with victims’ families and affected citizens.”

However, it appears little — if any — of the review will be conducted in open hearings.

The panel’s terms of reference don’t contain provisions to compel witnesses to speak under oath, and they say information collected in the preparation of its report “shall be kept confidential.”

This is a point federal Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer takes issue with, adding he has concerns about the governments opting for an independent review as opposed to a full public inquiry.

“In the course of the review, what happens if the members of the panel aren’t able to obtain [that] information and the public never finds that out? That’s why we’re calling on the government to explain exactly why they went this route and not the full public inquiry route,” he told our sister station NEWS 95.7 in Halifax.

Scheer is also accusing the governments of dragging their feet to get this review started, adding the opposition will look to hold the government to account to make sure the information in this case is appropriately released to the public.

The panel will be led by the former chief justice of Nova Scotia, Michael MacDonald, who will be joined by former federal Liberal cabinet minister Anne McLellan, and Leanne Fitch, the former chief of police in Fredericton.

The panel will be led by former chief justice of Nova Scotia, Michael MacDonald, who will be joined by former federal Liberal cabinet minister Anne McLellan and Leanne Fitch, the former chief of police in Fredericton. #cdnpoli

— Cormac Mac Sweeney (@cmaconthehill) July 23, 2020

Family members of victims have called for a public inquiry that would include a comprehensive look at how the RCMP handled the shootings of April 18-19 in central and northern Nova Scotia. More than 30 senators have also called on the governments to create a full open, transparent, and comprehensive inquiry.