Can you catch me up on the Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry so far?

The public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting is expected to deliver its interim report in May. A major focus for this inquiry has been on the RCMP’s public communications failures.

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There's shit going down in the Supplement world that we can’t speak publicly about right now. We're sorry we missed last week, but we hope we can explain in more detail soon. 

This week, we’re tackling this question: Can you catch me up on the Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry so far?

TL;DR: After starting in late February, the public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting is still ongoing and is expected to deliver its interim report in May. A major focus for this inquiry has been on the RCMP’s public communications failures surrounding the rampage. Meanwhile, victims’ families have continued to be critical of the commission’s process and are calling for more live testimonies. 

On February 22, the joint federal-provincial commission started its public inquiry into the Nova Scotia mass shooting in 2020 — the worst one in Canada’s history, killing 22 people. The inquiry is still ongoing. (Though public hearings are on a break right now and will resume April 25.)

Over the past two months, the commission has had 14 days of public hearings, heard live testimonies from around 10 witnesses and released 12 “foundational documents” as part of the determination of the facts of the mass shooting. 

A big focus on the inquiry has been on the RCMP’s public communications of the rampage.

At 11:32 p.m. on April 18, 2020, the RCMP tweeted about a “firearms complaint” investigation, recommending that residents lock their doors. At this time, the police force was already aware of an active shooter situation, including the potential of the shooter driving a replica RCMP cruiser based on 911 calls. The inquiry heard that at least two RCMP officers suggested sending out a public alert about the situation.

It wasn’t until 8:02 a.m. the next day that the RCMP sent out a tweet alerting the public to an “active shooter situation” in the area. Then, it took until 8:54 a.m. for the force to tweet out the gunman Gabriel Wortman’s identity and photo. And then until 10:17 a.m. for them to tweet a photo of his car (despite receiving the photo two hours earlier) and a warning that he could be wearing an RCMP uniform.  

The fact that the RCMP mainly used Twitter — instead of the Alert Ready system, which would reach people directly via TV, radios and phones — was also criticized, especially since rural residents don’t use the social media platform as much. The RCMP said the force was drafting an Alert Ready message when officers spotted and killed the shooter at 11:25 a.m.

Experts told CP24 that the decision-making process around public communications inside the RCMP is often slow, and that this was an unprecedented situation for the area’s RCMP.

Meanwhile, the victims’ families have remained equally critical of the process. (We’ve written about how they were already criticizing the inquiry at the outset over a lack of transparency around witnesses.) In particular, their lawyers said they want the inquiry to include more live testimony and allow for the ability to clarify or ask follow-up questions. 

For example, it’s still unclear when Wortman’s wife, Lisa Banfield, might testify. She has previously spoken to the RCMP about his abuse and his erratic behaviour leading up to the rampage. She was charged with providing Wortman ammunition, but has been transferred to a restorative justice program.

The commission’s interim report is expected to be released May 1. Commission Investigations Director Barbara McLean told CTV News that this report would be geared towards sharing “the commission’s progress to date and anticipated next steps, including topics to be explored further…. The interim report will not include recommendations.” It is required to submit the final report, which would include recommendations, in November.

Nova Scotia will likely see legislation this fall creating provincial days of remembrance on April 18 and 19, the dates of the shooting.

Here’s someone to follow: 

This week, we recommend you follow Nick Hune-Brown. He’s a senior editor at The Local — an outlet that we’re a big fan of — and all around a great longform writer. His investigation into the exploitation of international students in Canada also recently won a big award, so it’s time to give it a much deserved re-read!

Here’s a story to check out: 

For the price of one recommendation, you get a two-part feature. Check out The Tyee’s deep dive story into Site C, its role in the dispossession of the Kwadacha Nation, and an Indigenous-led movement to take back power.