Another RCMP officer involved in the NS shooting investigation alleged that Commissioner Brenda Lucki pressured them in order to fulfill the Liberal Safety Minister’s gun control agenda.

In April 2021, Lia Scanlan, then director of strategic communications for NS RCMP, sent Lucki a scathing letter concerning a meeting Lucki called with her and other senior officials involved in the investigation.

RCMP officers had just given a press conference to update the public on what they knew about the mass shooting. However, they withheld information on the guns used, thinking it could jeopardize their investigation. Quickly thereafter, they were summoned to meet with Lucki by phone.

“The reason for the meeting was unclear, although I suspected it may have to do with ‘guns’…”

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

She further stated that Lucki said officers had “let the boys down,” referring to children of victims who’d been killed in the shooting.

“I could not believe what you, the leader of our organization, was saying and I was embarrassed to be privy to what was unfolding. It was appalling, inappropriate, unprofessional, and extremely belittling.”

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

This is the second RCMP officer on record to claim that Lucki pressured those involved in the active investigation.

Indeed, officer Darren Campbell’s notes allege that Lucki “promised” the Prime Minister’s Office and Public Safety Minister that the weapons used in the shooting would be released early, despite the risks that posed to the integrity of the murder investigations – and that this information would be used to support future gun control legislation.

“The Commissioner said she had promised the Minister of Public Safety and the Prime Minister’s Office that the RCMP (we) would release this information. I tried to explain… we could not release this information at this time. The Commissioner then said that we didn’t understand, that this was tied to pending gun control legislation that would make officers and the public safer.” [Emphasis added]

Following the shooting, Trudeau wasted no time pursuing gun control legislation doing so just weeks later through an order in council. This would be realized in May 2022 after passing Canada’s national handgun freeze, which will prevent the purchase of all new handguns in the future (a de facto ban).