Calls mount for public inquiry into mass murder
TRURO — The daughter of one of Nova Scotia's mass shooting victims is calling for an immediate start to a public inquiry into the April tragedy.
Darcy Dobson, daughter of victim Heather O'Brien, posted a message on Facebook to “formally request” the start of a public inquiry into shootings on April 18-19 in northern Nova Scotia that left 22 people dead.
“We are now 40 days past this tragic event, we aren't able to heal properly because, and to be quite frank, the amount of information being kept from us is deplorable,” Dobson said. “I urge you to put yourselves in our shoes. The woman who was the centre of our world was taken from us in a manner that no one could ever even imagine.”
Dobson's plea echoes earlier calls for an inquiry, including one last month from 33 of Dalhousie University's approximately 40 faculty members of its Schulich School of Law in Halifax. A group of seven Nova Scotia women fighting femicide have also called for a public inquiry “with a feminist analysis.”
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil has previously said such a review should be led by the federal government, with support and assistance coming from the province.
Cumberland-Colchester MP Lenore Zann is also calling on Ottawa to begin a public inquiry into the event.
“I am officially requesting an independent public inquiry into the recent mass shootings that took place here in our usually peaceful community of Northern Nova Scotia,” she wrote in a letter to Public Safety Minister Bill Blair. “There are issues of concern about the murderer's behaviour long before, leading up to, and during the horrendous events of April 18 and 19, when in a period of 13 hours, 22 innocent people in several small rural communities were viciously murdered.
“Many of my constituents want answers.”
That position was supported by Dobson in her Facebook post.
“We understand that there is an active investigation,” the Debert resident said. “We also know we have rights to information, especially regarding our individual circumstances. I think we can all agree that public safety is of the utmost importance and feeling safe in our communities is a must. The back and forth about who's responsible for an inquiry is unreal. It causes the families of this senseless crime more distress and again I'm sure we can all agree that is not OK.”
The mass murders by a Halifax denturist who was ultimate fatally shot by police have been described as the worst mass murder in Canadian history.
If that is so, Dobson said, “… why are we not trying to learn from it? The fact that any one of us has to ask these questions is all very concerning and only makes everyone feel, inadequate, unimportant and unsafe.”
Zann said she spoke personally with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau last week to request his support for an independent public inquiry. She said he “appeared supportive of the idea and open to working out something with the province…” which leases RCMP services from the federal government.
“The PM seemed to clearly understand the grief, pain and fear that this horrendous violence has brought upon Nova Scotians and the growing frustration due to the lack of information,” Zann said.
“Thirty years after the Polytechnique massacre in Montreal which, shockingly, did not ever receive a public inquiry, surely this time it is our duty to do the right thing and hold a substantive independent inquiry into this recent tragedy,” she said.
Zann said she does not think a public inquiry should be held before the RCMP completes its investigation of the tragedy, but stressed the public should know that one will be forthcoming.