June 22, 2022

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, ON — Raquel Dancho, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, Dane Lloyd, Conservative Shadow Minister for Emergency Preparedness, and Pierre Paul-Hus, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Services and Procurement, released the following statement in response to allegations of political interference from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Public Safety Minister’s office in the RCMP investigation into the Nova Scotia mass killing:
“The separation of political institutions from our law enforcement is crucial. Our police need to be able to do their important work without politicians making attempts to steer or influence them in any way. Not only is this critical to ensuring there is faith and trust in our institutions, but Canadians expect nothing less.
“Now we are learning of the serious allegations that the Prime Minister’s Office and the Public Safety Minister’s office politically interfered in the active police investigation into the 2020 Nova Scotia mass killing to advance the Liberal government’s political agenda.
“In the days after the horrific and traumatizing mass murders that took the lives of 22 Canadians, RCMP Chief Superintendent Darren Campbell alleges the Liberal government pressured the Commissioner of the RCMP to release specific details about the firearms used in the killings to advance their political agenda for pending gun control legislation.
“The Superintendent said that would compromise active investigations both north and south of the border.
“Campbell alleges he was informed by the RCMP Commissioner that a “promise” had been made to former Minister of Public Safety, Bill Blair and the Prime Minister’s Office that the RCMP would release this information. He also alleges that the Commissioner was told releasing this information was, “tied to pending gun control legislation.”
“These are serious and shocking allegations that deserve answers. That is why we want an immediate investigation in to the matter.
“We need to hear from the Prime Minister. We need to hear from the former Public Safety Minister. We need to hear from the members of the RCMP who were involved. There must be an investigation to hear the full story. That is why Conservatives have requested an emergency meeting of the Standing Committee on Public Safety and National Security (SECU) to get to the bottom of this.
“Canadians deserve to see the full picture. The Liberal government owes it to Canadians and if they have nothing to hide, then we expect their full cooperation.”

The full text of the request can be found here.

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