The chair of the committee that oversees the recommendations of the inquiry into Nova Scotia's 2020 mass shooting says she's pleased with the progress she's seeing from the RCMP and governments.
Shooter shot and killed 22 people during a 13-hour rampage in the province on April 18 and 19, 2020
Public inquiry in 2023 released a list of 130 recommendations that cover gender-based and intimate partner violence, access to firearms, policing and an independent provincial police oversight agency.
The Independent Progress Monitoring Committee has a three-year mandate to publicly report on initiatives taken by the provincial and federal governments, as well as the RCMP.
“Let me remind you that change takes time, and I understand that it can never come fast enough,” committee chair Myra Freeman said during the release of the second annual report.
The 50-page report highlights progress being made on several fronts, including emergency management, regulatory oversight, mental health and gender-based violence prevention.
The report divides recommendations into 14 groups. Two groups, both falling under “police reform,” were rated “complete.”
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“They're keeping a close eye on what needs to be done. They've completed management and are working to make sure other recommendations are implemented,” Freeman said.
The remaining groups of recommendations were rated at various levels: “started” and “in progress.”
Scott McLeod, whose brother Sean died in the attacks, is a member of the committee and says he is optimistic about the work being done.
“People are engaged, which is nice because that's the only way things work. If people aren't engaged, nothing happens,” he said.
While the report found the RCMP to be doing well, the federal Department of Justice's progress in supporting victims received the lowest rating — because it had only been “initiated.”
McLeod acknowledges there are gaps in support for victims and their families, but feels reassured knowing those issues have been identified.
“Yes, there are gaps, but again, when we find gaps, all we can do is try to fix those gaps and make life better for everyone else,” he said.
According to Freeman, the issue has been discussed at all levels of government.
“We noted that governments urgently need to make this a priority and an issue that needs to be addressed,” she added.
In a statement, Premier Tim Houston thanked the committee for its work and said Nova Scotia is “on the right track in many areas” and has made significant investments.
“These are complex and interconnected issues that we are trying to address,” he said.
“As well as addressing the epidemic of intimate partner violence and the causes of violence, we must also break down systemic barriers and improve the safety and resilience of communities.”
The monitoring committee includes representatives from the government, families of victims, police, gender-based violence advocacy groups and organizations representing Indigenous and African-Canadian communities.
It meets quarterly and plans to hold another meeting in December in Ottawa.
Freeman says the third report will focus on gender-based violence and intimate partner violence.
— with a file from The Canadian Press
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