Bill Blair said that while he was Secretary of Public Safety, his job was to gather information on how the RCMP reacted to the worst mass shooting in Canadian history, but said he had not intervened politically in the investigation.
Mr Blair, who is now emergency preparedness minister, was haunted by reporters’ questions Wednesday about a letter from Leah Scanlan, the former communications director of Nova Scotia’s RCMP, to Commissioner Brenda Lucky.
Sent around the anniversary of the shooting and circulated publicly Tuesday, the letter said Lucky told Nova Scotia officials she was under pressure to make public the types of weapons used by the shooter in the rage that killed 22 people. .
The letter refers to a meeting between Lucky and Nova Scotia RCMP staff on April 28, 2020, where Scanlan said Lucky had informed the group of “pressure and conversation with [then public safety] Minister Blair. “
“I remember feeling disgusted when I realized that this was the catalyst for the conversation,” Scanlan said in a letter dated April 14, 2021.
“I couldn’t believe what you, the leader of our organization, were saying, and I was embarrassed to be aware of what was unfolding. It was horrifying, unprofessional and extremely demeaning.
Mr Blair has repeatedly said there has been no interference and “no pressure has been put on the investigation”.
“My job as then-Secretary of Public Safety was to ensure that information was collected on behalf of the Canadian government regarding the police response,” he said.
“I know very clearly that the line between the government’s responsibility for managing and overseeing the RCMP and giving guidance in any way, and at no point have I crossed that line or any member of my government crossed that line. line to give instructions to the RCMP Commissioner ”.
Leah Scanlan, a former communications director at Nova Scotia’s RCMP, sent a letter to RCMP commissioner Brenda Lucky last year calling her behavior “appalling, unprofessional and extremely derogatory.” (Andrew Vaughn / Canadian Press)
Scanlan’s letter reflects notes published last week by Supt. Darren Campbell on the same subject.
Campbell claims that Lucky said she promised Prime Ministers Justin Trudeau and Blair that the RCMP would release information on the types of weapons used by the shooter.
He also noted that Lucky said “this is related to upcoming gun control legislation that will make employees and the public safer.”
Campbell’s notes also say he believes the release of information on the types of weapons could jeopardize the investigation into how the shooter acquired his weapons.
On May 1, 2020, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced a ban on about 1,500 brands and models, including two of the weapons used in the mass shooting in Nova Scotia. At the time, police did not reveal the specific brands and models used in the attacks.
WATCH: Liberals remain adamant that there was no interference in the RCMP investigation into the Nova Scotia shooting:
Liberals remain adamant that there was no interference in the RCMP investigation into the Nova Scotia shooting
June 23, 2022 – House of Government leader Mark Holland reiterates that the federal government did not interfere in the RCMP’s investigation into the mass shooting in Nova Scotia in 2020, but the opposition insists on an investigation by the indictment commission. Ukraine’s new ambassador to Canada, Yulia Kovaliv, is discussing her country’s EU bid.
Scanlan wrote that within the Nova Scotia division, the RCMP is committed to sharing any new information with the victims’ families to the media to prevent their re-sacrifice, and details of the weapon have not yet been shared with them.
“It was all political pressure,” Scanlan
This is not the only time Scanlan has made accusations of political pressure.
In an interview with commission investigators earlier this year, she said Blair and the prime minister were “weighing what we can and can’t say.”
She said Lucky was advised not to do media interviews, but nevertheless did so and thus gave inaccurate information.
Lucky initially said 17 people were killed, information that the RCMP confirmed internally, when local commanders only said that “more than 10” people lost their lives at a press briefing on the evening of April 19.
“She came out and did it and she knew damn well – and it was all political pressure,” Scanlan said.
“This is 100 percent Minister Blair and Prime Minister, and we have a Commissioner who is not backing down.”
In addition to Scanlan’s letter, the committee released handwritten notes from former Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, who has since stepped down as Nova Scotia’s RCMP commanding officer and chief aide. Chris Leder, who was the second commander in April 2020, on Tuesday.
Bergerman’s notes indicate who attended the meeting on April 28, 2020, and include the phrase “angry at the lack of details about the weapons,” but not who made the comment.
Leder’s notes said the meeting with Lucky was for “firearms used” and noted a “correction to include information on firearms in the notes.”
He also noted that the emerging topic was a concern about the “flow of information”.
Lucky regrets the “effect of my words”
In a statement issued Tuesday night, Lucky said she was disappointed with the flow of information after the shooting, but said there was no political interference.
“It was an extremely difficult time and I was really disappointed with the flow of information. I regret the effect of my words on the participants in this meeting, “she wrote.
“I know there are questions about political interference. There was certainly a need to exchange timely and accurate information with the Government of Canada, and I tried to do that. However, I would like to emphasize again that I did not seek to interfere in the ongoing investigation in any way, nor did I feel any political pressure to do so. “
RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucky said she was disappointed with the flow of information after the shooting, but said there was no political interference. (Chris Wattie / The Canadian Press)
Mr Blair said he was unfamiliar with Lucky’s conversations with her staff.
“The RCMP commissioner also admitted that she had a difficult conversation with her own people,” he said.
“But I can tell you with absolute certainty that my government and I have not given any operational instructions and have not interfered in any way in the investigation or the reaction of the police.
The allegations sparked a political storm in Ottawa and led to an upcoming parliamentary hearing to address allegations of potential political interference.
In a separate press conference on Tuesday, incumbent Public Security Minister Marco Mendicino was asked if the latest scandal had damaged confidence in the high mountains.
“Well, in the easiest days, being an RCMP commissioner is difficult. That’s a big deal, “he said.
“I know that the Commissioner works every day to work with her leadership team as well as with regular members of the RCMP.”
Concerned family lawyer
Lucky is expected to appear before the Mass Victims Commission this summer, where he will testify under oath.
Michael Scott of Patterson Law, the firm representing the families of most of the shooting victims, said he was concerned about possible political interference. He said it would be useful for participants in the April 28 meeting to confirm “exactly what has been said” in order to eliminate any debate on the issue.
“Then we will have some real questions about what the RCMP’s involvement in the Ottawa headquarters is in this investigation, because we will be extremely concerned about using the mass casualty event as a political opportunity,” Scott told reporters in an inquiry Tuesday.
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