Mass Shooting Inquiry Report Finds RCMP and Government Responses Lacking Evaluation
An independent committee has published its initial report regarding the response of governments and the RCMP to the investigation of the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. However, the report does not evaluate the progress made thus far.
Released on May 1 by the Progress Monitoring Committee, the report provides a detailed account of the actions taken by the federal and Nova Scotia governments and the RCMP. Chairwoman Linda Lee Oland chose not to comment on the satisfaction of the committee with these measures.
Ms. Oland, a former judge from the Nova Scotia Court of Appeal, mentioned that the committee, which is seven months old, recently created a rating system to monitor progress. However, this system will not be implemented until after the committee reconvenes with government and RCMP officials in June.
Describing the rating system, the chairwoman stated, “We are not simply counting widgets like in a factory.” Progress is assessed on a four-step scale: completed, on track, initiated, and no expectation of significant progress.
Meetings held in September, December, and March included presentations and written briefs from the federal and Nova Scotia governments, as well as the RCMP. However, this information was not evaluated.
Despite this, Ms. Oland noted that there has been momentum regarding the recommended changes from the federal-provincial inquiry known as the Mass Casualty Commission. This inquiry submitted a final report with 130 non-binding recommendations in March 2023, with roughly half of them focusing on policing.
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The committee’s report details the extensive actions taken by the RCMP, reiterating the information provided by the police force in March when it released its progress report.
During the public hearings of the inquiry in Nova Scotia, it was revealed that the 13-hour shooting spree by the killer began in Portapique, N.S., on the night of April 18, 2020. Disguised as a Mountie and driving a vehicle identical to an RCMP cruiser, Gabriel Wortman fatally shot 13 individuals on the first night and another nine the following day, including a pregnant woman and an RCMP officer.
The seven-volume report even suggested that Ottawa should reconsider the central role of the RCMP in Canadian policing.
The inquiry criticized the Mounties’ response to the shootings, noting missed warning signs about the killer, such as domestic violence reports, illegal firearm possession, and multiple encounters with the law. Additionally, it found that the RCMP were disorganized and failed to issue alerts promptly to the public, leading to delayed responses for some victims.
The commissioners leading the investigation were informed about the RCMP’s history of disregarding reports calling for change, prompting the establishment of the committee to oversee the implementation of the inquiry’s recommendations.
With this responsibility in mind, the committee views itself as a trailblazer, setting the path for ensuring the implementation of recommendations from public inquiries that are typically non-binding.
Members of the committee include relatives of the victims, community representatives, law enforcement and government officials, advocates for gender-based violence, and individuals from Indigenous and African-Canadian communities.
The committee meets every three months, provides progress reports every six months, and is tasked with a three-year mandate. Ms. Oland’s tenure as chairwoman concludes on May 31, with her successor expected to be announced shortly thereafter.
