EAST HANTS: Kings-Hants MP Kody Blois issued this statement after the announcement that the federal and provincial government will now hold a public inquiry into the mass shootings that took place in April.
“The Nova Scotia mass shooting in April 2020 impacted all of us, changing some lives forever. Questions need to be answered to better understand how it happened and how it can be prevented from happening again.
“The process to get those answers will now be a full federal independent Public Inquiry.”
“In the last few days the families of the victims, and Nova Scotians at large, raised concerns about the previously announced panel review and whether that process could deliver the answers they need. It became clear that if there isn’t confidence in the process that there is unlikely to be confidence in the results.
“An Independent Joint-Review to investigate the mass shooting was chosen as the path forward. It included robust terms of reference that sought to answer the questions that Nova Scotians are asking led by a group of panelists who are highly respected for their professional experience and expertise.
“However, the process had limitations in its ability to solicit testimony under oath and compel documents from individuals and organizations.”
“While I welcomed the review process for its benefits, I understand that Nova Scotians deserve a process that instills complete public confidence. In recent days I have heard these concerns and discussed them with my colleagues.
“I am pleased that the federal Public Safety Minister Bill Blair has now authorized a full Public Inquiry under the federal Inquiries Act.
“This tragedy has impacted all Nova Scotians, particularly those of the victims families, and while we can’t change what happened we can do our best to ensure that no stone is left unturned to understand why it happened and mitigate such a tragedy from happening again anywhere in Canada.”
