Senior Mountaine supports his memo suggesting political interference in the investigation of the Nova Scotia mass shootings

A senior RCMP officer holding a handwritten note that ignited a controversy over allegations of political interference in the Nova Scotia mass shooting investigation said he supported his account on July 26. ..

Commissioner Darren Campbell also said that any kind of interference with the investigation, whether political or not, was unacceptable.

Campbell backed a note recorded in a telephone meeting with the Commissioner the day after RCMP Commissioner Lucky testified in front of the Commons Standing Committee on Public Security and National Security that there was no political interference in the investigation into the killings. Said. April 28, 2020.

“What I say is that my memo is an accurate description of my recollection of the conversation,” Campbell said on July 26. Mass Casualty Commission (MCC), an independent hearing created to investigate the tragedy that killed 22 people on April 18-19, 2020.

“And some of the words used, what happened between the Commissioner’s office and someone in the government, I don’t know that, I wasn’t part of it-I endorse my note . “

Campbell wrote that Lucky “promised” to publish firearms information to then-Public Security Minister Bill Blair and the Prime Minister’s Office, which was linked to the next gun policy from the free government.

testimony

In a testimony to the Standing Committee on July 25, Prime Minister Blair said he had “never instructed or promised to disclose certain information” to the RCMP.

“I’ll make it clear. I’ve never asked Lucky to reveal that information. I never directed her to communicate. She made no promise to me.” And the former Minister of Public Security Said..

Blair, now Minister of Emergency Preparation, responded to Conservative Rep. Raquel Dancho. At a press conference on April 28, 2020, he asked if he had received a guarantee from Lucky that the type of weapon used for the shooting would be open to the public. ..

Lucky’s testimony followed Blair’s testimony, saying that when Dancho investigated, the minister had asked her in advance about the stock of guns.

“You promised him that the information would be announced at a press conference on April 28, right?” Dancho asked.

“In fact, I’ve confirmed that they will be part of the media event,” Lucky said.

In his memo, Campbell detailed concerns that public disclosure of weapons details could “endanger” investigations being conducted by RCMP and US law enforcement agencies.

“As a former team commander who understands the need to protect certain information for me, I was very worried about advancing the investigation and achieving my goals … these details There was a very good reason why I couldn’t publish. “He said.

“And we have a duty to do our best, especially for victims or survivors and their families, to achieve these goals.”

“unacceptable”

The Campbell version of the conference call was supported by former RCMP Assistant Commissioner and Commander of the H Division of Nova Scotia, Liebergerman, and Assistant Commissioner Chris Leather. Nova Scotia Chief of Naval OperationsTestified to the committee the day after Lucky.

“yes [Lucki] Said the pressure was empty [Blair] The Prime Minister’s Office had promised that the information would be made public, but the pressure was the result of being tied to the next gun policy from the Liberal Party government. Is that correct? “Dancho asked Bergerman.

“That’s right,” Bergerman said.

Leather added that Lucky referred to the imminent gun control by the Liberal Party government recorded in Campbell’s “comprehensive and detailed” memo.

“I would agree with the statement made on the minister, the Prime Minister’s Office, and the imminent gun control,” he said.

Campbell told the MCC that any form of interference would hinder the investigation of the RCMP.

“I couldn’t accept any interference, political or not, that would properly investigate these crimes and discourage them from seeking justice for their families,” he said.

“Whatever it is, whether it is political or not, I am about how the family perceives it if it is political, if it is political motivation. I was very worried. It bothered me. “

Noé Chartier contributed to this report.