 
CANADA.
A NURSE, A TEACHER, CORRECTION 
OFFICERS, A SERVING POLICE 
OFFICER, PARENTS, NEIGHBOURS, 
AND FRIENDS.
THE FULL SCOPE OF THIS TRAGEDY 
AND THE 18 LIVES THAT WERE LOST 
WILL BE REMEMBERED THROUGHOUT 
CANADA'S HISTORY.
ONE OF THE PARTICULARLY TRAGIC 
ELEMENTS OF THIS TERRIBLE EVENT 
WAS THE DEATH OF CONSTABLE HEIDI
STEVENSON, WHO WAS KILLED 
ANSWERING THE CALL TO DUTY, 
WHILE BRAVELY RESPONDING TO THIS
TRAGIC INCIDENT.
CONSTABLE STEVENSON WAS A 
23-YEAR VETERAN OF THE RCMP, 
ADMIRED, RESPECTED, AND BELOVED 
BY HER COLLEAGUES AND HER 
COMMUNITY.
I ALSO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE 
CONSTABLE CHAD MORRISON, WHO IS 
RECOVERING TODAY FROM GUNSHOT 
WOUNDS THAT HE SUFFERED IN 
RESPONDING BRAVELY TO THIS 
EVENT.
I THINK ALL CANADIANS ARE 
GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE PEOPLE 
LIKE CONSTABLE STEVENSON, 
CONSTABLE MORRISON, MEN AND 
WOMEN SERVING IN LAW ENFORCEMENT
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WHO ANSWER 
THE CALL, WHO RUSH TOWARDS 
DANGER, WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON 
THE LINE.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT
THEY ARE HEROES EVERY DAY, NOT 
JUST MADE HEROES BY THIS 
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY, BUT EVERY DAY 
FOR THEIR SERVICE.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEIR 
SACRIFICE.
NOVA SCOTIA RCMP ARE ACTIVELY 
INVESTIGATING ALMOST 16 -- I 
BELIEVE 16 CRIME SCENES AND THEY
WILL BE RELEASING INFORMATION AS
IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
I CAN TELL YOU FROM EXPERIENCE 
THAT IN THESE INCREDIBLY COMPLEX
AND TRAGIC CRIMES WHAT IS KNOWN 
NOW WILL BE ADDED TO.
THE INFORMATION WILL BE 
INCOMPLETE.
THE RCMP ARE DOING AN 
EXTRAORDINARY JOB OF TRACKING 
THE EVIDENCE, GETTING THE FACTS,
DEALING WITH FAMILIES WHO ARE 
GRIEVING AN INCREDIBLE LOSS, AND
THEY ARE DEALING WITH ALL OF 
THAT WHILE THEY MOURN THE LOSS 
OF A BELOVED COLLEAGUE.
LAST NIGHT I HAD THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SPEAK WITH M.P.s FROM NOVA 
SCOTIA WHO I SERVE WITH LENORE 
ZANN, GARY FISHER, AND I ASKED 
THEM TO EP US UNDERSTAND HOW THE
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CAN SUPPORT
THEIR COMMUNITIES AT THIS TRAGIC
TIME.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO WORK 
TOGETHER TO GET THROUGH THIS.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE 
RCMP IN THE VITAL AND IMPORTANT 
WORK THEY ARE DOING TO GET 
CANADIANS THE ANSWERS THEY SEEK.
I'VE ALSO HAD THE OPPORTUNITY 
THIS MORNING TO SPEAK WITH NOVA 
SCOTIA'S ATTORNEY GENERAL AND 
MINISTER OF JUSTICE MARK FUREY.
HE AND I USE TO WORK TOGETHER 
WHEN HE WAS SERVING WITH THE 
RCMP, AND HE SPOKE ABOUT HIS 
RECOLLECTION OF CONSTABLE 
STEVENSON.
HE WAS INVOLVED IN HER 
RECRUITMENT AND HIRING AND 
TRAINING.
IT WAS VERY APPARENT TO ME HOW 
DEEPLY EMOTIONALLY AND IMPACTFUL
THIS TRAGEDY HAS BEEN FOR HIM AS
WELL.
SO I WOULD LIKE TO TAKE THIS 
OPPORTUNITY TO SINCERELY THANK 
THE MEMBERS OF NOVA SCOTIA'S 
RCMP AND THE COMMISSIONER, WHO 
SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES EVERY DAY.
AS CANADIANS WE HAVE NO GREATER 
RESPONSIBILITY THAN THE SAFETY 
OF OUR COMMUNITIES AND OUR KIDS.
I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO TAKE THIS 
COMMUNITY TO EXPRESS MY 
HEART-FELT CONDOLENCES TO THE 
PEOPLE OF PORTAPIQUE, TO THE 
REGION OF CENTRAL NOVA SCOTIA 
THAT HAS BEEN SO DEEPLY IMPACTED
BY THE LIVES THAT HAVE BEEN 
STOLEN IN THIS SENSELESS ACT OF 
VIOLENCE.
I WOULD LIKE TO TURN TO 
COMMISSIONER LUCKI TO MAKE HER 
REMARKS.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON.
OUR HEARTS ARE BROKEN.
MY HEART IS BROKEN.
A SENSELESS ACT OF VIOLENCE 
UNPRECEDENTED IN OUR COUNTRY HAS
OCCURRED.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF THE 
PEOPLE ACROSS CANADA AND ACROSS 
THE WORLD WHO HAVE SHARED THEIR 
EXPRESSIONS OF GRIEF AND 
CONDOLENCES.
WE ARE ALL FAMILIES.
HEIDI SERVED IN HER COMMUNITY.
HER CHILDREN WENT TO SCHOOL IN 
THE COMMUNITY, AS DOES CHAD 
MORRISON.
IN THE FACE OF THIS 
UNPRECEDENTED CRIME, IT'S GOING 
TO BE VERY LONG AND VERY 
COMPLICATED.
IT'S NOT GOING TO BE GONE 
THROUGH OVERNIGHT.
AS THE MINISTER SAID, THERE IS 
AT LEAST 15 CRIME SCENES.
BUT OUR FOCUS MUST BE AND WILL 
BE TO PUT NAMES TO THE VICTIMS, 
TO THE HEROES, TO THE PEOPLE WHO
SERVED THEIR COMMUNITY.
AGAIN, ON BEHALF OF THE RCMP 
FAMILY, I WANT TO THANK THE 
MINISTER, THE MEDIA, AND ALL THE
CANADIANS FOR SUCH A TREMENDOUS 
SUPPORT THROUGH ALL OF THIS.
IT MEANS SO MUCH TO US.
I WILL END BY SAYING CANADIANS 
ARE RESILIENT.
COVID SHOWED US OUR RESILIENCY.
THIS EVENT WILL SHOW US OUR 
RESILIENCY.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS.
WE WILL GET THROUGH THIS 
TOGETHER.
THANK YOU.
>> [Speaking French] [Voice of 
Interpreter] TODAY WE'RE SHARING
THIS TREMENDOUS TRAGEDY AND 
GRIEVING WITH THE PEOPLE OF NOVA
SCOTIA.
SENSELESS CRIMES TOOK PLACE IN 
PORTAPIQUE AND IN THE ENVIRONS.
I AM ENTIRELY BEHIND THE 
FAMILIES WHO RECEIVED THE WORST 
CALL OF THEIR LIVES YESTERDAY.
THERE IS NO WAY TO DESCRIBE THIS
LOSS AND TRAGEDY.
I OFFER MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES 
AND THOSE OF ALL CANADIANS.
TO THE FAMILIES, TO THE LOVED 
ONES OF THE VICTIMS.
SO HERE IS THE INFORMATION THAT 
WE CAN SHARE WITH YOU AT THIS 
POINT.
18 PRECIOUS LIVES HAVE BEEN 
LOST, INCLUDING AN OFFICER OF 
THE RCMP.
CONSTABLE HEIDI STEVENSON WAS 
MOWED DOWN AS SHE WAS CARRYING 
OUT HER DUTIES.
THIS HERO WAS A VETERAN OF 23 
YEARS IN THE RCMP.
WE ALSO HOPE THAT THE OTHER 
CONSTABLE OF THE RCMP WHO WAS 
INJURED, MR. CHAD MORRISON, THAT
HE GETS BACK ON HIS FEET 
QUICKLY.
IT IS TOO EARLY TO KNOW THE 
NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO MAY HAVE 
DIED BECAUSE WE'RE CONSTANTLY 
ASSESSING THIS.
WE KNOW THAT CLOSE ONES, LOVED 
ONES, NURSES, AND OTHERS WHO 
CONTRIBUTED TO THEIR COMMUNITIES
MAY HAVE DIED.
SO WE ARE WITH THOSE 
COMMUNITIES.
THE RCMP IN NOVA SCOTIA IS 
CARRYING OUT ITS INVESTIGATION 
IN THE VARIOUS LOCATIONS OF THE 
VARIOUS CRIMES AND WILL EXPRESS 
ALL THE INFORMATION REQUIRED AS 
IT BECOMES AVAILABLE.
IN THE MEANTIME, I WOULD ASK 
CANADIANS TO BE UNITED IN THEIR 
GRIEF, IN SUPPORT OF THESE 
COMMUNITIES THAT HAVE BEEN HARD 
HIT.
I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE 
MEMBERS OF THE RCMP IN NOVA 
SCOTIA WHO ARE SERVING 
COURAGEOUSLY THEIR COMMUNITIES 
ON A DAILY BASIS.
AS A GOVERNMENT, WE HAVE NO 
GREATER RESPONSIBILITY THAN TO 
ENSURE THE SAFETY AND SECURITY 
OF CANADIANS.
ONCE AGAIN, I WOULD LIKE TO 
EXPRESS MY SINCERE CONDOLENCES 
TO THE PEOPLE OF PORTAPIQUE AND 
TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO HAVE LOST 
LOVED ONES IN A SENSELESS ACT OF
VIOLENCE.
[end of translation]. 
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE WILL TAKE QUESTIONS, STARTING
WITH THREE QUESTIONS ON THE 
PHONE.
ONE QUESTION, ONE FOLLOW UP.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
PLEASE PRESS STAR 1 AT THIS TIME
IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION.
THE FIRST QUESTION, STEVE HAIR, 
"REUTERS."
PLEASE GO AHEAD, YOUR LINE IS 
OPEN.
>> Question: HELLO, YES.
I WANTED TO ASK -- I KNOW THE 
OTHER PRESS CONFERENCE IN NOVA 
SCOTIA INDICATED THE DEATH TOLL 
MAY NOT BE FINAL.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU HAVE AN 
IDEA OF HOW MANY PEOPLE MAY BE 
MISSING RIGHT NOW?
>> Answer: AT THIS TIME WE DON'T
HAVE AN EXACT NUMBER.
WE JUST KNOW THERE ARE CERTAIN 
SCENES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN 
PROCESSED AND BECAUSE OF FIRE 
IT'S NOT EASILY APPARENT IF ALL 
THE PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ACCOUNTED 
FOR.
>> Question: CAN I FOLLOW UP?
>> YES.
>> Question: MY FOLLOW UP WOULD 
BE, HAVE YOU BEEN ABLE TO FIND 
OUT WHETHER THE ATTACKER LEFT 
ANY SORT OF NOTE AT ALL BEFORE 
GOING ON THIS RAMPAGE?
IS IT. 
>> Answer: NO NOTE HAS BEEN 
FOUND TO DATE.
>> THANK YOU.
NEXT QUESTION ON THE PHONE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION DANIELLE 
LEBLANC FROM "THE GLOBE AND 
MAIL."
PLEASE GO AHEAD.
>> Question: IT'S A QUESTION FOR
MR. BLAIR.
THE PRIME MINISTER HAS TALKED 
ABOUT LEGISLATION ON GUN 
CONTROL.
THERE'S ALSO BEEN RAISED A 
POSSIBILITY OF NOT GOING THROUGH
THE LEGISLATIVE PROCESS.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF 
WHETHER YOU'RE STILL LOOKING AT 
POSSIBLE ORDER-IN-COUNCIL TO 
ENACT THE PROMISED BAN ON 
ASSAULT WEAPONS.
>> Answer: OUR GOVERNMENT HAS 
BEEN VERY CLEAR IN ITS 
COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN GUN 
CONTROL IN CANADA.
WE HAVE BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY 
ON THE BEST WAY TO ACHIEVE THE 
STRENGTHENING OF BOTH OUR 
REGULATIONS AND THE LEGISLATION 
PERTAINING TO FIREARMS AND 
MAKING CANADA A SAFER PLACE.
TODAY, QUITE FRANKLY, WE FOCUS 
ON THE GRIEVING FAMILIES OF THIS
TERRIBLE TRAGEDY AND PROVIDE 
SUPPORT TO THE RCMP IN THE 
CONDUCT OF THEIR INVESTIGATION.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO DO THE WORK 
OF PARLIAMENT, BUT TODAY OUR 
FOCUS REALLY IS ON THAT SUPPORT 
THAT IS SO NECESSARY FOR THE 
COMMUNITIES, FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE
LOST LOVED ONES, AND FOR THE 
RCMP WHO ARE DOING IMPORTANT 
WORK TODAY.
>> Question: A FOLLOW UP FOR 
COMMISSIONER LUCKI.
CAN YOU GIVE US A SENSE OF THE 
FIREARMS THAT WERE USED, WHETHER
OR NOT THEY WERE REGISTERED OR 
WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE 
PROPERLY OBTAINED AND GIVE US A 
SENSE OF WHAT YOU KNOW ON THAT 
FRONT.
>> Answer: THERE IS STILL A LOT 
OF WORK TO BE DONE IN REGARDS TO
THE VARIOUS FIREARMS THAT HAVE 
BEEN USED IN THIS CRIME SPREE.
I DON'T HAVE THAT INFORMATION.
WE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF 
TRACING.
WE WILL BE DOING A LOT OF 
BACKGROUND WORK INTO THAT, BUT 
TO DATE WE DON'T HAVE THAT 
INFORMATION.
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
OPERATOR, NEXT QUESTION ON THE 
PHONE.
>> Operator: THE NEXT QUESTION 
IS FROM JIM BROWNSCALE FROM THE 
CANADIAN PRESS.
PLEASE GO AHEAD, YOUR LINE IS 
OPEN.
>> Question: FOR MINISTER BLAIR.
DO YOU HAVE A TIMELINE ON WHEN 
THE GUN CONTROL MEASURES WILL BE
BROUGHT IN.
THERE ARE RENEWED CALLS TODAY 
FROM PEOPLE WHO WOULD LIKE TO 
SEE THESE PUBLIC INTEREST 
MEASURES IN PLACE.
>> Answer: AS I'VE INDICATED, 
JIM, WE HAVE BEEN WORKING 
DILIGENTLY ON FULFILLING OUR 
COMMITMENT TO CANADIANS TO BRING
FORWARD LEGISLATION AND 
REGULATION TO STRENGTHEN GUN 
CONTROL IN THIS COUNTRY.
I THINK AS ALL CANADIANS ARE 
AWARE, THERE HAS BEEN A 
SIGNIFICANT INTERRUPTION IN 
PARLIAMENTARY PROCESSES IN 
RESPONSE TO THE VIRUS, BUT THAT 
WON'T PREVENT US FROM BRINGING 
FORWARD MEASURES TO KEEP 
COMMUNITIES SAFE AND STRENGTHEN 
THE GUN LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING THROUGH 
COMPLEX PARLIAMENTARY PROCESSES 
AND MUCH OF THAT IS RESOLVING 
ITSELF TODAY. 
>> Question: FOLLOW UP FOR 
COMMISSIONER LUCKI.
FORGIVE ME IF THIS HAS BEEN 
ADDRESSED.
WAS THE INDIVIDUAL INVOLVED IN 
THESE TERRIBLE ACTS, WAS HE 
KNOWN TO POLICE AND RCMP IN 
ANY -- WAS HE KNOWN TO POLICE IN
ANY WAY BEFORE THESE ACTS?
>> Answer: THE SUBJECT IN 
QUESTION WAS NOT WELL-KNOWN TO 
POLICE. 
>> THANK YOU, COMMISSIONER.
WE'LL START TAKING QUESTIONS IN 
THE ROOM.
>> Question: I THINK THIS 
QUESTION IS FOR MINISTER BLAIR, 
BUT, COMMISSIONER, IF YOU WOULD 
LIKE TO COMMENT AS WELL.
THE NEWS CONFERENCE WE HEARD 
FROM NOVA SCOTIA REFERENCED TWO 
ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATIONS BY THE
SERIOUS INCIDENT RESPONSE TEAM.
WE'RE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND.
WERE THERE CIVILIANS OR OTHER 
MEMBERS OF THE POLICE WHO MIGHT 
HAVE BEEN FIRED UPON IN THIS 
INCIDENT?
IT'S NOT CLEAR WHO THESE 
INCIDENTS INVOLVE.
CAN YOU SHED A BIT OF LIGHT.
>> Answer: WHENEVER THERE IS A 
USE OF FORCE BY POLICE, THE 
INDEPENDENT INVESTIGATORS OF ANY
PROVINCE WILL DO AN 
INVESTIGATION.
SO IT'S BASED ON USE OF FORCE BY
THE RCMP, AND THAT'S ALL I CAN 
COMMENT ON.
THERE'S TWO SPECIFIC INCIDENTS 
THEY'VE BEEN REQUESTED TO 
INVESTIGATE.
>> Question: BUT YOU CAN'T TELL 
THE PUBLIC THAT NO CIVILIANS OR 
BYSTANDERS -- YOU'RE NOT RULING 
THAT OUT?
>> Answer: NO, IT'S WITH THE 
RCMP.
IT'S NOT -- NO INNOCENT 
CIVILIANS HAVE BEEN HARMED IN 
THE USE-OF-FORCE INCIDENTS.
>> Question: IF I COULD SQUEEZE 
ONE MORE QUESTION IN THERE.
A QUESTION THAT'S BEEN RAISED IS
ABOUT THE FACT THAT WHILE THERE 
WAS INFORMATION SENT OUT ON 
TWITTER, THERE WAS NO PUBLIC 
ALERT SENT OUT OVER THE 
TELEPHONE OVER THE COURSE OF 
THIS INCIDENT.
I'M WONDERING IF THAT'S 
SOMETHING YOU'RE LOOKING INTO 
AND WHETHER YOU HAVE QUESTIONS 
ABOUT WHETHER THAT MIGHT HAVE 
HELPED PRESERVE PUBLIC SAFETY.
>> Answer: I DO SAY THAT IN ANY 
INCIDENT SUCH AS THIS WE HAVE TO
LOOK BACK AT WHAT WE DID.
NO ONE WILL LOSE THEIR LIFE IN 
VEIN, HEIDI WILL NOT LOSE HER 
LIFE IN VEIN, NOR WILL THE 17 
OTHER VICTIMS.
IF THERE'S GOING TO BE A BETTER 
WAY TO DO THINGS -- IF WE CAN 
TAKE THIS AND MOVE FORWARD AND 
FIND A BETTER WAY TO ADVISE THE 
PUBLIC.
BUT I HAVE TO SAY IN THESE 
INCIDENTS, THEY ARE SO DYNAMIC 
AND QUICK, AND IT WAS JUST OVER 
12 HOURS THAT ALL OF THIS TOOK 
PLACE.
THERE WAS A LOT OF -- 15 
DIFFERENT CRIME SCENES.
SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THE DYNAMIC 
NATURE OF THIS.
AGAIN, WE LOOK AT ALL THE 
CRIMINAL SIDE AND THEN WE LOOK 
AT THE ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE OF 
ALL OF THAT TO SAY WHAT COULD WE
HAVE DONE BETTER TO MAKE 
CANADIANS SAFER?
BECAUSE THAT IS ULTIMATELY OUR 
GOAL.
>> Question: MINISTER BLAIR, 
WITH RESPECT TO THE VICTIMS AND 
NOT TO TAKE AWAY FROM THEM, I DO
WANT TO RETURN TO GUN CONTROL 
LEGISLATION.
FOLLOWING THE ATTACK IN 
NEW ZEALAND LAST YEAR, THE 
NEW ZEALAND GOVERNMENT WAS VERY 
SWIFT IN WORKING TO REDUCE THE 
NUMBER OF GUNS THAT THEY HAD IN 
THEIR COMMUNITIES, ASSAULT 
WEAPONS.
LIKEWISE, AUSTRALIA DID THE SAME
THING FOLLOWING A MASS SHOOTING 
THERE IN 1995.
THEY MOVED QUITE QUICKLY.
YOU SAID IT'S STILL ON THE TABLE
AND ON THE AGENDA.
EXACTLY HOW AND WHEN IS THIS 
GOING TO BE BROUGHT UP AND IN 
THIS NEW REDUCED COVID 
PARLIAMENT THAT WE HAVE.
>> Answer: THERE ARE A NUMBER OF
SIGNIFICANT STEPS THAT WE HAVE.
WHAT WE PREVIOUSLY INDICATED WAS
OUR INTENTION TO STRENGTHEN GUN 
CONTROL LEGISLATION.
WE INTEND TO BRING FORWARD BOTH 
REGULATION AND LEGISLATION THAT 
WILL ENABLE US TO PROHIBIT 
MILITARY-STYLE ASSAULT WEAPONS.
WE ARE ALSO WORKING ON 
STRENGTHENING GUN STORAGE RULES.
TO REDUCE THE INCIDENTS OF 
SMUGGLING OF FIREARMS ACROSS THE
BORDER.
WE ALSO ARE INTENDING TO BRING 
FORWARD LEGISLATION TO INTRODUCE
WHAT ARE SOMETIMES REFERRED TO 
AS RED FLAG LAWS FOR INDIVIDUALS
WHO REPRESENT A SIGNIFICANT RISK
TO THEMSELVES OR TO OTHERS TO 
MAKE SURE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS
TO FIREARMS AND TO SUSPEND 
TEMPORARILY THEIR ABILITY TO 
ACQUIRE FIREARMS.
THAT WORK HAS BEEN CONTINUING.
WE ARE HIGHLY MOTIVATED BY OUR 
COMMITMENT TO KEEP CANADIANS 
SAFE.
THERE HAVE BEEN FAR TOO MANY 
INCIDENTS OF GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR
COUNTRY AND WE ARE WORKING HARD 
TO MAKE SURE WE PUT THE MEASURES
IN PLACE THAT SIGNIFICANTLY 
REDUCE THOSE INCIDENTS AND KEEP 
PEOPLE SAFE.
OF COURSE WE'RE DEEPLY IMPACTED 
BY THE TERRIBLE CRIMES THAT HAVE
TAKEN PLACE OVER THE PAST 36 
HOURS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME I 
THINK IT'S VERY IMPORTANT TO 
ALLOW THE RCMP TO CONDUCT THEIR 
INVESTIGATION, TO GATHER THE 
EVIDENCE AND THE FACTS.
OUR PUBLIC POLICY SHOULD BE 
EVIDENCE-BASED AND WILL BE 
EVIDENCE-BASED.
WE WILL SUPPORT THE RCMP IN THE 
CONDUCT OF THEIR INVESTIGATION.
I THINK WE'VE MADE IT VERY CLEAR
A COMMITMENT TO STRENGTHEN GUN 
LAWS IN THIS COUNTRY AND WE ARE 
WORKING ON DOING THAT.
THE ACTUAL SCHEDULE FOR BRINGING
FORWARD THAT LEGISLATION, THAT 
IS STILL TO BE DETERMINED 
BECAUSE WE ARE IN SOMEWHAT 
UNCERTAIN TIMES IN PARLIAMENT, 
BUT IT DOESN'T IN ANY WAY IMPLY 
THAT WE ARE ANY LESS COMMITTED 
TO TAKING THE STEPS THAT ARE 
NECESSARY TO KEEP CANADIANS 
SAFE, TO STRENGTHEN OUR GUN 
LAWS, AND TO DO THOSE THINGS 
WHICH CANADIANS EXPECT OF US AND
WHICH ARE NECESSARY TO REDUCE 
GUN VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITIES.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
COMMISSIONER LUCKI, CONDOLENCES 
TO YOU AND THE FORCE.
THE SUSPECT HAD A MOCK POLICE 
CAR AND UNIFORM.
FOR THAT WAS HE ON YOUR RADAR?
>> Answer: FOR THAT HE WASN'T ON
OUR RADAR AS FAR AS WE KNOW, BUT
THERE'S A LOT OF INVESTIGATIVE 
STEPS BEING FOLLOWED TO TRACE 
THAT BACK AND HOW IT DID HAPPEN 
AND HOW IT COULD OCCUR, MOST OF 
WHICH WE THINK IS REPLICA.
IT WASN'T ACTUALLY AN RCMP 
VEHICLE, BUT IT WAS MADE TO LOOK
IDENTICAL TO ONE.
WE WILL TRACE BACK EVERY PART OF
THAT VEHICLE TO FIND OUT HOW 
THAT HAPPENED AS WELL AS WITH 
THE UNIFORMS.
>> Question: I'VE JUST GOT TO 
SAY THAT I'M REALLY SORRY FOR 
YOUR LOSSES AND ALSO TO THE 
PEOPLE OF NOVA SCOTIA WITH 
REGARD TO THE FIREARM, ALTHOUGH 
YOU MIGHT NOT -- AND I KNOW THAT
IN PREVIOUS SHOOTINGS THAT THE 
POLICE HAVE NOT RELEASED DETAILS
OF THE FIREARM THAT WAS USED, 
PARTLY BECAUSE OF A TRIAL, WHICH
THERE ISN'T GOING TO BE ONE HERE
AND CONTINUING INVESTIGATION.
I'M WONDERING, WITHOUT ACTUALLY 
SPECIFYING A MAKE OR A MODEL, 
COULD YOU SAY -- INFORM US 
WHETHER THESE -- THIS WEAPON OR 
WEAPONS WERE RESTRICTED OR 
PROHIBITED OR WERE THEY 
NON-RESTRICTED?
AND DID THE SHOOTER HAVE A 
FIREARM LICENCE?
>> Answer: WITH REGARDS TO THE 
VARIOUS WEAPONS USED, WHAT WE 
WILL DO IS BECAUSE THERE'S 15 
DIFFERENT CRIME SCENES AND 
DESPITE WHAT THE SUSPECT MAY OR 
MAY NOT HAVE, WE HAVE TO 
DETERMINE AT EACH LOCATION WHAT 
WAS USED.
DETERMINE IF IT WAS A LONG ARM 
OR A HANDGUN.
UNTIL WE KNOW EXACTLY THE CAUSE 
OF EACH DEATH, I WOULD BE -- 
WE'RE NOT IN A POSITION TO SAY 
WHAT TYPES OF WEAPONS THEY -- 
THAT THE SUSPECT WAS IN 
POSSESSION OF.
WE'RE STILL -- THERE IS STILL A 
LOT OF SCENES TO PROCESS AND 
WE'RE NOT SURE THAT WHAT -- WHAT
WE MAY HAVE RIGHT IN FRONT OF 
OUR EYES IS USUALLY NOT WHAT 
ENDS UP HAPPENING.
WE HAVE TO MAKE SURE WE ARE -- 
AS CHIEF SUPERINTENDENT LEATHER 
SAID, WE ARE CONDUCTING 
SEARCHES.
THERE'S STILL SOME SEARCHES TO 
BE DONE AND WE'RE PUTTING THOSE 
PIECES TOGETHER. 
>> Question: RIGHT, I THINK I 
UNDERSTAND THAT.
YOU HAVE TO DETERMINE AND 
ESTABLISH THAT EACH AND ALL OF 
THESE WEAPONS WERE USED OR NOT 
IN THE SHOOTINGS.
BUT WITH REGARD TO THE FIREARM 
LICENCE, I WOULDN'T THINK THAT 
ANYTHING INVESTIGATIVE WOULD 
HINGE ON THAT.
IF YOU COULD TELL US WHETHER OR 
NOT THAT INDIVIDUAL DID HAVE OR 
DID NOT HAVE A FIREARM LICENCE.
>> Answer: TIM, AS WE'VE 
INDICATED, THE RCMP ARE IN THE 
EARLIEST HOURS AND DAYS OF THIS 
INVESTIGATION AND IT'S A COMPLEX
ONE.
I THINK IT'S QUITE APPROPRIATE 
FOR THEM TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT THE
RELEASE OF INFORMATION UNTIL 
THEY'VE HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO 
VERIFY AND CONFIRM IT.
SO IT IS, I THINK, INAPPROPRIATE
AND THE COMMISSIONER WOULD QUITE
NATURALLY BE VERY RELUCTANT TO 
REVEAL DETAILS OF THAT 
INVESTIGATION UNTIL IT IS 
COMPLETE.
SO I WOULD URGE CANADIANS TO BE 
PATIENT WITH THE RCMP, AS THEY 
DO A VERY DIFFICULT BUT VERY 
IMPORTANT JOB FOR US IN GETTING 
ALL THE FACTS, IN CONFIRMING 
THEIR EVIDENCE, MAKING SURE THAT
ALL THE STEPS TO PRESERVE THAT 
EVIDENCE ARE TAKEN.
CANADIANS DESERVE ANSWERS.
THE FAMILIES OF THESE VICTIMS 
DESERVE ACCURATE ANSWERS.
LET US BE PATIENT WHILE THE RCMP
CONDUCTS THEIR INVESTIGATION AND
CONFIRMS THE EVIDENCE, AND THEN 
I'M ABSOLUTELY CONFIDENT THEY 
WILL BE TRANSPARENT AND 
FORTHCOMING WITH THAT, ONCE THAT
IMPORTANT WORK HAS BEEN DONE.
>> Question: THANK YOU.
I UNDERSTAND THAT.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
WE'LL TURN BACK TO THE PHONE.
>> Operator: THANK YOU.
THE NEXT QUESTION DYLAN 
ROBERTSON FROM "WINNIPEG FREE 
PRESS."
YOUR LINE IS OPEN.
>> Question: I WANT TO EXPRESS 
MY CONDOLENCES AND I DON'T MEAN 
TO DISTRACT FROM THIS TRAGEDY, 
BUT I WANT TO ASK MINISTER BLAIR
ABOUT THE SITUATION IN OUR 
FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS WITH COVID.
AS FAR AS I CAN TELL, YOU 
HAVEN'T DONE ANY INTERVIEWS 
SINCE THE PANDEMIC HIT THE 
JAILS.
WE'VE SEEN MINISTERS WITH 
LESS-IMPORTANT PORTFOLIOS SHOW 
UP AT CONFERENCES THERE IS A 
HASHTAG GOING AROUND 
#whereisBlair?
.
I'M WONDERING WHAT YOU'VE BEEN 
DOING.
>> Answer: I'VE BEEN HERE EVERY 
SINGLE DAY AND WORKING WITH ALL 
OF MY OFFICIALS, INCLUDING 
COMMISSIONER KELLY, WHO I'VE 
SPOKEN WITH TODAY ABOUT THE 
CORRECTION OFFICIALS.
I CAN ASSURE CANADIANS THAT WE 
HAVE BEEN TAKING A NUMBER OF 
VERY SIGNIFICANT STEPS TO ENSURE
THE HEALTH AND SAFETY OF THE 
INMATE POPULATION WHO WE ARE 
RESPONSIBLE FOR.
BOTH CORRECTIONS CANADA AND OUR 
PA ROLE BOARD ARE WORKING 
DILIGENTLY TO GET THOSE 
INDIVIDUALS RELEASED WHO ARE NOT
A THREAT TO PUBLIC SAFETY.
LITERALLY HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE 
HAVE, IN FACT, BEEN PLACED BACK 
IN THE COMMUNITY, BUT THAT IS 
DONE IN A CAREFUL AND SUPERVISED
WAY BECAUSE PUBLIC SAFETY IS OUR
FIRST PRIORITY.
WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS 
THEMSELVES, OUR CORRECTIONS 
SERVICES CANADA OFFICIALS HAVE 
BEEN WORKING WITH PUBLIC HEALTH 
CANADA AND WITH PROVINCIAL 
PUBLIC HEALTH AUTHORITIES TO 
ENSURE THAT ALL OF THE MEASURES 
THAT ARE NECESSARY TO PROTECT 
OUR INMATE POPULATIONS ARE 
NECESSARY, THAT IS ISSUING 
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT TO
BOTH CORRECTIONS OFFICERS AND 
THE INMATES IN THOSE 
INSTITUTIONS.
THAT PROPER SOCIAL-ISOLATION AND
SOCIAL DISTANCING MEASURES ARE 
BEING TAKEN.
IN ALL OF THE INSTITUTIONS WHERE
THE VIRUS IS PRESENT, THERE HAVE
BEEN LOCKDOWNS PUT IN PLACE TO 
ISOLATE THOSE WHO ARE INFECTED.
IN ADDITION, SUPPORT IS BEING 
PROVIDED TO THOSE SUFFERING FROM
THIS ILLNESS.
I WANT TO ASSURE CANADIANS WE 
TAKE OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO THE 
SAFETY OF THOSE INMATES VERY, 
VERY SERIOUSLY, BUT ALSO TO THE 
SAFETY OF OUR COMMUNITIES.
OUR CORRECTION SERVICES AND 
PAROLE BOARD HAVE BEEN WORKING 
WITH THE PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS
TO PROTECT THAT POPULATION AND 
TO TAKE THE STEPS NECESSARY TO 
MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE THE 
PROTECTION AND WHERE THE ILLNESS
IS PRESENT, THAT PEOPLE RECEIVE 
THE CARE AND TREATMENT AND 
SUPPORT THAT THEY NEED.
>> Question: MINISTER, HOW MANY 
INMATES HAVE BEEN RELEASED DUE 
TO COVID-19 AND HOW MANY HAVE 
BEEN TRANSFERRED TO HOSPITALS?
>> Answer: MY UNDERSTANDING IS 
THOSE WHO HAVE REQUIRED 
TREATMENT IN HOSPITALS HAVE BEEN
TRANSFERRED THERE.
THE COMMISSIONER ADVISES ME THAT
MANY OF THE PEOPLE WHO HAVE 
RECEIVED THAT TREATMENT ARE NOW 
BACK IN THE INSTITUTIONS, HAVING
BEEN RECOVERED, ALTHOUGH THERE 
ARE A NUMBER OF INDIVIDUALS 
STILL RECEIVING TREATMENT IN 
HOSPITAL.
WITH RESPECT TO THE RELEASE OF 
PRISONERS, APPROXIMATELY 600 
PEOPLE BECOME ELIGIBLE FOR 
CONSIDERATION FOR PAROLE AND 
RELEASE AND THE PAROLE BOARD HAS
BEEN WORKING DILIGENTLY THROUGH 
THOSE RELEASE PROVISIONS.
AS WELL, THERE ARE SOME 
INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE ELIGIBLE FOR
EXCEPTIONAL CONSIDERATION FOR 
RELEASE AS A RESULT OF MEDICAL 
CONDITIONS.
THOSE, FOR EXAMPLE, EXPERIENCING
A COMPLEX PREGNANCY.
SO THOSE MEASURES HAVE BEEN 
TAKEN.
I DON'T HAVE A PRECISE NUMBER OF
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN 
ENTERED INTO A COMMUNITY OF 
BASED PAROLE DURING THIS CRISIS,
BUT I CAN TELL YOU CORRECTIONS 
SERVICES CANADA AND THE PAROLE 
BOARD OF CANADA HAVE BEEN 
WORKING VERY, VERY HARD TO MAKE 
SURE THAT PEOPLE WHO NEED 
ADDITIONAL PROTECTIONS AND 
CONSIDERATIONS ARE GIVEN SUCH 
AND AT THE SAME TIME THEY'RE 
APPLYING THEIR ALWAYS DUE 
DILIGENCE IN ENSURING THAT 
PEOPLE WHO ARE RELEASED ARE 
RELEASED IN CIRCUMSTANCES THAT 
ALLOW FOR SAFE REINTEGRATION 
BACK INTO THE COMMUNITY.
[ Please Stand By ]
YES CAN YOU GIVE US A BALLPARK
NUMBER TO THOSE SUSCEPTIBLE OF
COVID-19?
YOU MENTIONED HUNDREDS.
COULD YOU JUST NARROW THAT DOWN
FOR US?
>> THERE HAVE BEEN OVER THE PAST
SIX WEEKS, HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE
WHO HAVE BEEN ELIGIBLE AND
RECEIVED APPROVAL FROM THE
PATROL BOARD FOR RELEASE AND A
NUMBER OF THOSE PARTICULARLY
VULNERABLE.
THERE ARE 4,000 PEOPLE IN OUR
FEDERAL INSTITUTIONS AND A
QUARTER ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR
PATROL AND WE'RE TAKING STEPS
NECESSARY FOR THOSE NOT ELIGIBLE
AND WE ARE TAKING THE STEPS
NECESSARY TO KEEP THEM SAFE
WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS.
SOME INMATES ARE ELIGIBLE AND
WE'RE DOING EVERYTHING TO
EXPEDITE THEIR RELEASE INTO THE
COMMUNITIES BUT WE WANT TO MAKE
SURE WHEN THEY ARE RELEASED INTO
COMMUNITIES, WE ARE ABLE TO
PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY
SUPPORT, THIS HOUSING AND OTHER
MEASURES WHICH WILL HELP THEM BE
SUCCESSFUL INTO THE COMMUNITY.
AND SO WE ARE TRYING TO SPARK A
BALANCE BETWEEN KEEPING THAT
INMATE POPULATION WHICH CANNOT
BE RELEASED SAFE AND HEALTHY
WITHIN THE INSTITUTIONS AND
ENSURING PEOPLE WHO WOULD
BENEFIT FROM AN EARLIER RELEASE
ARE GIVEN FULL CONSIDERATION IN
THAT DETERMINATION.
>> Question:  JUST ANOTHER
COVID-RELATED QUESTION FOR THE
MINISTER.
THE INCIDENT RESPONSE GROUP MET
IN LATE JANUARY ON THIS MATTER
AND CAN YOU TELL US WHETHER ANY
CANADIAN-PRODUCED INTELLIGENCE
ON COVID-19 WAS PRESENTED AT
THAT MEETING?
AND IF SO, WHAT DID IT SAY?
>> I CAN SAY IT WAS CONVENED IN
JANUARY AND THEN FORMED THE
COVID RESPONSE COMMITTEE.
I SERVE ON THAT COMMITTEE AND
HAVE ATTENDED VIRTUALLY EVERY
MEETING.
I AM NOT GOING TO DISCUSS
INTELLIGENCE MATTERS, BUT I CAN
TELL YOU THAT ALL RELEVANT
INFORMATION WAS BROUGHT BEFORE
THAT COMMITTEE AND RECEIVED FULL
CONSIDERATION.
>> THANK YOU, MINISTER.
>> Operator:  THIS ENDS THE
PRESS CONFERENCE, THANK YOU.
>> Andrew:  YOU'VE BEEN
LISTENING TO PUBLIC SAFETY
MINISTER, BILL BLAIR AND BRENDA
LUCKI WHO SAID THAT WHAT
HAPPENED IN NOVA SCOTIA OVER THE
WEEKEND, THAT IT WAS A SENSELESS
ACT OF VIOLENCE, UNPRECEDENTED
IN OUR COUNTRY'S HISTORY AND
THAT THE FOCUS OVER THE COMING
DAYS WILL BE TO PUT NAMES TO THE
