Blair and Luckey were testifying before the House of Commons public safety and national security committee about allegations that Blair or his office pressured Luckey to release details of the weapons used in the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. Blair and Luckey appeared before the commission this summer, where both denied interfering with the RCMP investigation. They were responding to reports that the Prime Minister’s office and Blair’s office wanted information about the guns to be released in order to advance the Liberal government’s gun control agenda. Earlier this month, the RCMP released the audio of an April 2020 call between Lucki and RCMP personnel. In that call, Luckey expresses her frustration that investigators did not disclose the make and model of the guns, adding that she had told Blair’s office that this would be the case. Investigators were concerned that public release of this information could jeopardize their investigation into the massacre. Before the committee, Luki said the audio of the call made it clear there was no political pressure. Instead, Lucki said RCMP staff made a mistake in telling her the information about the weapons would be made public. “There was a miscommunication, that’s clear on the recording,” Lucki told the committee. “I did not suggest that the gun information was necessary to inform or support pending legislation.” Luki said she spoke with government officials before the news conference and that in response to a question from Blair’s chief of staff, she said the weapons information would be released because, Luki said, RCMP staff had told her that would happen. “They didn’t ask me to do anything, they just asked a simple question,” Lucki said. “There was no direction.” Information on the make and model of the weapons was not part of the press conference. Lucki said she was expressing her frustration in the call that her staff had misinformed her. “The desire to keep the public informed was part of the reason I wanted the information released,” Lucki said. “Once I was informed by my team that sharing the information would jeopardize the ongoing investigation, the matter was closed and I forwarded it to the minister’s office.” “It’s never pleasant to have a conversation when someone doesn’t live up to your expectations,” he added. Lucki said in the April 2020 call that she planned to apologize to the minister. At the committee on Monday, he said the apology was for misinforming the minister’s office about the information the press conference would include. “It was an apology for misinformation,” Lucki said. WATCHES | RCMP commissioner testifies to commission on 2020 Nova Scotia mass shootings
RCMP commissioner testifies to commission on 2020 Nova Scotia mass shootings
Manitoba Conservative MP Raquel Dancho questions Brenda Lukey about the information she shared with Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair’s office about the weapons used in the 2020 mass shooting in Nova Scotia. Raquel Dancho, the conservative public safety critic, said it was inappropriate for the minister’s chief of staff to have asked the question. “For us, this is political pressure from the minister’s office. That is the concern here ma’am,” Dancho said. Luki disagreed. “I appreciate your point, but your point is wrong,” Lucki replied. Liberal MP Pam Damoff said she sympathized with Luckie’s frustration in the April 2020 phone call. “What I read, and what I heard, was a commissioner who echoed the frustration that all Canadians had with the lack of communication provided by the Nova Scotia RCMP,” Damoff told the committee. Lucki responded by expressing concern about the controversy’s effect on her reputation. “I find it difficult, especially when my integrity is questioned, because as a police officer I pride myself on my integrity,” he said. “And having been in policing for over 37 years, to have my integrity questioned, by anyone, I find that a bit insulting, actually.”
Blair denies directing the RCMP commissioner
Testifying before Luckey, Blair repeated his earlier denials. “At no point did I direct the RCMP on any operational matter, including public communications,” Blair said. “I have not asked them to release any specific information, nor have I received a promise from them to do so.” Blair, a former Toronto police chief, has repeatedly said he respects police independence. “That line is crystal clear in my mind; not to give direction to the RCMP, and it’s a principle I’ve always respected.” Blair also denied that the Prime Minister’s Office pressured Luki. He cited the RCMP Act, which says only the minister of public safety can instruct the RCMP commissioner. WATCHES | Blair testifies to Nova Scotia mass shootings committee in 2020:
Blair testifies to Nova Scotia mass shootings committee in 2020
Manitoba MP Raquel Dancho questions Emergency Preparedness Minister Bill Blair before a House committee about allegations he pressured RCMP Commissioner Brenda Lukey to release details of the weapons used in the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting . Both Blair and Luckey said most of their communication is in person, and Luckey mostly communicated with staff in Blair’s office. Blair told the committee he did not believe it was necessary for the RCMP to release information about the weapons at the press conference. Dancho told Blair that he found the differences between Blair’s and Luki’s recollection of the events troubling. “You denied all these words [Lucki] she said it’s true, and yet you haven’t fired her. I find it shocking,” Dancho said.
