‘A feeling of disgust’: Second document emerges saying top Mountie Brenda Lucki faced pressure from Liberal minister


OTTAWA — Another damning document has emerged at the Nova Scotia mass shooting inquiry that appears to support a claim by Mounties that the head of the RCMP felt pressured by a federal Liberal minister to release information about the shooter’s weapons to bolster the government’s pending tighter gun control legislation.

However, in a statement to the Star, the top Mountie, RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lucki, denied any such pressure.

The Mass Casualty Commission posted a letter written by Lia Scanlan to Lucki in April 2021, nearly a year to the day after an April 28, 2020 news conference about the largest mass shooting in Canada’s history, a public briefing which did not give specifics about the caliber of firearms used.

Days later, on May 1, 2020, the Liberal government would announce new regulations to ban 1,500 “military-style” assault weapons — controls that had been delayed by the pandemic outbreak by about a month.

In her 2021 letter, Scanlan recalls the Nova Scotia Mounties were still reeling from the traumatic events of the April 18-19 shootings and the death of a Mountie colleague, and were proud of the job Supt. Darren Campbell had done at the news conference.

But she recounts her “disgust” at Lucki’s conduct on a conference call immediately afterwards, during which she said Lucki referenced “pressures and conversation with Minister Blair” about why details about the guns used should have been made public.

Scanlan said senior Nova Scotia Mounties were first “unclear” about why they were summoned to the call with Lucki and her senior advisers in Ottawa. During the call, Lucki berated the Nova Scotia team in a way that was “appalling, inappropriate, unprofessional, and extremely belittling,” wrote Scanlan, director of the Nova Scotia RCMP division’s strategic communications unit, in the partially redacted letter.

It’s the second document alleging Lucki had referenced discussions with the minister’s office and the PMO.

Supt. Campbell’s handwritten notes about the same meeting were released last week and said Lucki did not raise her voice but expressed disappointment in the Nova Scotia team, said they disrespected her, and stated “she had promised the Minister of Public Safety and the Prime Minister’s Office that the RCMP, (we) would release this information.”

Lucki, along with the then-minister of public safety Bill Blair and the Prime Minister’s Office have all denied any pressure or interference.

Scanlan wrote that prior to the news conference, there had been conversations between the RCMP’s headquarters and the Nova Scotia Mounties about why “from an investigational standpoint” the specific firearms information “could not be discussed publicly.” Campbell’s notes indicated it was because the RCMP was still probing the assailant Gabriel Wortman’s access to firearms, an investigation being carried out both by the RCMP and United States law enforcement.

But Scanlan’s letter also highlights the Nova Scotia RCMP had pledged not to release any information before informing victims’ families, who had not been given any details “related to the guns” prior to the April 28 news conference.

Yet, during the call, Scanlan said Lucki “personally attacked” her, told them their work was a “blatant sign of disrespect,” their communications were not “strategic,” and they had “let the boys down” — a reference Scanlan said was to the two young boys whose parents were murdered in front of them.

“Eventually, you informed us of the pressures and conversation with Minister Blair, which we clearly understood was related to the upcoming passing of the gun legislation… and there it was.

“I remember a feeling of disgust as I realized this was the catalyst for the conversation and perhaps a justification for what you were saying about us.”

Scanlan has previously testified at the inquiry about the RCMP’s controversial delay in publicly alerting Nova Scotia residents about an active shooter driving a replica RCMP cruiser on the loose, but not about the tense call with RCMP headquarters over what were seen as broader communications failures.

In the letter, Scanlan said Lucki showed no empathy for a team “who had pressures coming from governments at every level” as the world was watching its actions.

“Our focus was on the families and on the boys not on the legislation being passed on May 1, 2020.”

“The political lens was not our sole focus,” she said.

Scanlan said even after Lucki was informed “by Sharon” that there was never any intention to “mention the guns” at the news conference, she did not apologize, though others tried to “minimize on your behalf what just took place.”

Nova Scotia’s Assistant Commissioner Lee Bergerman, Chief Supt. Chris Leather, Supt. Darren Campbell, Scanlan, and from headquarters Dan Brien, Sharon Tessier and Deputy Commissioner Brian Brennan were also on the call, according to Scanlan.

In a statement to the Star on Tuesday, Annie Cullinan, spokesperson for Blair, denied any interference, saying the government “deeply respects” the principle of the operational independence of the police.

“At no time during his tenure as Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness did Minister Blair or his office direct the RCMP in any of their operational decisions, including during and immediately following the tragic events in April 2020.”

Cullinan said Blair was “regularly briefed following the events in Nova Scotia, but it was clear that the decision of what information to publicly disclose regarding any investigation, as with all operational matters, is taken solely at law enforcement’s discretion.”

In a statement to the Star on Tuesday, Lucki said, “I can confirm I received the letter from an RCMP employee about a meeting I had on April 28, 2020, with members of my team.”

“It was an extremely difficult time and I did express frustration with the flow of information. I regret the effects my words had on those involved in that meeting,” she said.

“I know there are questions about political interference. There was certainly a need for an exchange of timely and accurate information with the Government of Canada and I endeavored to do that. However, I want to re-emphasize that I did in no way seek to interfere in the ongoing investigation, nor did I feel any political pressure to do so.”

Lucki said she will be providing “sworn testimony to the Mass Casualty Commission in the coming weeks and appearing before a parliamentary committee on these matters. I won’t be commenting any further as my thoughts and attention are on honoring Cst. Heidi Stevenson as we gather to celebrate her life de ella at tomorrow’s memorial. ”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s office referred the Star to Blair’s office for comment on the latest allegation, although last week Trudeau also denied any interference.

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