These people will monitor whether MCC report’s recommendations are implemented
The committee tasked with monitoring the implementation of the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report has been appointed by the Nova Scotia and federal governments.
After hearing from 230 witnesses and 76 days of public sessions, the commission released its 2,964-page report this March into what led up to the April 18 and 19, 2020, killings of 22 Nova Scotians and one unborn child by Gabriel Wortman.
The report was highly critical of the RCMP for not acting on repeated calls from community members and from the Truro Police Service that Wortman had illegal guns and was committing acts of violence and intimidation.
Of the commission’s 130 recommendations, 70 were for police agencies.
“While no person or institution could have predicted the perpetrator’s specific actions on April 18 and 19, 2020, his pattern and escalation of violence could have and should have been addressed,” commission chair and former Nova Scotia chief justice Michael MacDonald said while delivering the report, titled Turning the Tide Together.
“Many red flags about his violent and illegal behaviour were known by a broad range of people and had been brought to the attention of police and others over a number of years,” MacDonald said.
The report also made recommendations about addressing gender-based violence, ensuring public alert systems are used during emergencies and an expanded collaborative model to support community safety.
The progress monitoring committee is chaired by former justice Linda Oland and will be made up of 16 people.
An intense interest to participate from the families of victims means seven will serve on a rotational basis. They include: Dan Jenkins, Crystal Mendiuk, Charlene Bagley, Scott McLeod, Jennifer Zahi Bruland, David Burkholder and Tammy Oliver-McCurdie.
Also serving will be: Colchester County Mayor Christine Blair; senior assistant deputy minister of reform, accountability and culture for the RCMP Alison Whelan; RCMP management advisory board member Simon Coakeley; Public Safety Canada senior assistant deputy minister Talal Dakabab; Annapolis Royal Police Service Chief Mark Kane; provincial executive council office associate deputy minister Jennifer Glennie; Kristina Fifield of the Avalon Sexual Assault Centre; lawyer Tuma Young, representing indigenous communities’ and Vanessa Fells, representing African-Nova Scotian communities.
According to the news release announcing the appointments Friday, the monitoring committee will hold its first meeting in Halifax soon, during which it will develop its work plan.
