How much death is enough?

The tragic events that unfolded in Nova Scotia on April 19 and 20, 2020, are etched into our memories as a province. The senseless murder rampage carried out by a 51-year-old man, resulting in the deaths of 22 innocent people, left us all reeling. We banded together as a community, mourning and grieving the loss of lives, and then we moved on, trying to make sense of the senseless.

However, the truth remains that this was not just a case of one man going off the deep end. It was a result of a systemic problem—a lack of care, understanding, and accountability around gender-based violence. The killer, who had a history of exploiting vulnerable individuals, was known to authorities, yet nothing was done to stop him.

The Department of Community Services, which funded his practice, turned a blind eye to the reports of his misconduct. The Denturist Licensing Board of Nova Scotia, responsible for ensuring ethical practices, failed to investigate his actions. Even the police, who were called to his household for reports of domestic violence, did not take the necessary steps to protect the victims.

Kristina Fifield, a trauma therapist and member of the Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund’s Accountability Project Advisory Committee, believes that implementing gender-based accountability mechanisms across all sectors of society is crucial in preventing perpetrators from escalating their violence. It requires a cultural shift in our understanding of gender-based violence and a commitment from all levels of government to take action.

The upcoming election in Nova Scotia presents an opportunity for political parties to address the issue of gender-based violence and implement accountability measures. Advocates and community organizations have called on the government to prioritize this issue, but so far, their calls have gone unanswered.

Fifield stresses the importance of appointing a gender-based violence commissioner to oversee the implementation of a national action plan. The Mass Casualty Commission’s report highlighted missed opportunities to intervene before the tragic events in Nova Scotia, emphasizing the need for a coordinated effort to prevent future tragedies.

As a province with the highest rate of gender-based violence in the country and the site of the largest mass shooting in Canadian history, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to the warning signs. It is time for us to work together, across sectors and communities, to address the root causes of gender-based violence and ensure that no more lives are lost to senseless acts of violence.