[2020 shooting,22dead]
RCMP's Lucki blames allegations of interfering on 'miscommunication'
Both Lucki and Bill Blair denied interfering in the RCMP investigation of the Nova Scotia mass shooting at a Commons committee hearing
Jul 25, 2022 • 1 hour ago
Testifying before the House public safety committee, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki denied Monday she’d urged detectives to make public details of weapons used by Nova Scotia mass murderer Gabriel Wortman, and denied that pressure came from then-Public Safety Minister Bill Blair and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
“I did not interfere in the investigation around this tragedy,” Lucki said.
“Specifically, I was not directed to publicly release information about weapons used by the perpetrator to help advance pending gun control legislation.”
Former Public Safety Minister Bill Blair, who testified just prior to Lucki, echoed her denials of pressure from both his office and the PMO.
The allegations were uncovered in handwritten notes by RCMP Supt. Darren Campbell included in a report published by the mass casualty inquiry last month — detailing pressure Lucki allegedly put on investigators to release the details. …
Campbell’s notes, backed by previous commission testimony by RCMP Communications Director Lia Scanlan, described a contentious telephone meeting after an April 28 press conference where a frustrated Lucki chastised officials for not releasing information on Wortman’s firearms — claiming she’d promised both Blair and the Prime Minister the information would be made public.
… Details on the shooter’s arsenal wouldn’t be made public until a November 2020 National Post report that revealed his guns were illegally purchased in the United States and then smuggled into Canada…
Others on that infamous call, however, had different recollections.
Retired RCMP member and former provincial commander Lee Bergerman who told the committee she felt “blindsided” by Lucki, describing her conduct towards her team as inappropriate and disrespectful.
“The tone of her voice and what she said to all of us made it apparent she wasn’t happy,” she testified.
“She felt disrespected and disobeyed.”
She testified both Campbell and Scanlan were particularly upset with Lucki’s conduct, as was Chief Supt. Chris Leather — who described being ‘taken aback.’
… Blair, who was public safety minister during the April 2020 mass shooting, denied accusations the government was relying on the information to justify strengthening gun control to Canadians, claiming intentions to ban so-called assault rifles dates back to the earliest days of the Trudeau government.
“The tragedy in Nova Scotia only deepened our resolve,” Blair testified.
moar @ sauce
https://torontosun.com/news/bill-blair-denies-interfering-with-rcmp-mass-shooting-investigation
other images from: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/21/nova-scotia-shooting-death-toll-canada