Continued calls for public enquiry

Local MLA Larry Neufeld—supported by Critic for Mental Health, Addictions, and Housing Supports Claire Rattée—say they welcome the announcement of a Coroner’s Inquest into what happened here, they continue to call for a full public inquiry, under BC’s Public Inquiry Act.

“We welcome the announcement of a coroner’s inquest, but it does not prevent the need for a public inquiry,” said Claire Rattée. “A public inquiry can establish facts, identify failures, and deliver recommendations that will affect change.

“There are many questions that must be answered. For example, why was the perpetrator released from psychiatric care? Why were firearms returned? A coroner’s inquest can examine the circumstances of the death, but a public inquiry is needed to fully examine the broader systemic and policy failures that may have contributed.”

“Families deserve answers, systems must be held accountable, and failures cannot be repeated,” said Larry Neufeld. “Tumbler Ridge deserves to know the truth.”

Rattée and Neufeld are calling for a public inquiry that examines system performance across government and the private sector, including: points of contact and information sharing between agencies and institutions, gaps across government, emergency management response, reviewing existing mental health and public safety tools, reviewing the responsibilities of online platforms, including AI services when accounts are flagged, and whether provincial policies left communities without the support they needed.

“I will never forget participating in a vigil in Tumbler Ridge alongside my colleagues,” said Rattée. “It was one of the most heartbreaking moments I ever experienced. We must take every step to ensure that another tragedy like this cannot happen again in our province.”

MP Bob Zimmer has also called for a public enquiry, though he has not commented after the announcement of the coroner’s enquiry.

However, he, and Frank Caputo, Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety, have previously asked for an independent public inquiry into the incident under the Federal Inquiries Act. “Independent Commissions have the power to subpoena witnesses, take evidence under oath, request documents and present findings and recommendations free of any interference.”

They say that there are multiple questions that need to be answered.

The cause, context and circumstances that led to the shooting, including the shooter’s access to firearms, why firearms were returned to the shooter’s home, and the prior interactions and the relationship of the shooter with police and social services;
The shooter’s mental health, including the role of treatments provided;
The responses of police, including the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Firearms Program and the Alert Ready program;
The nature of the AI used by the shooter and the relationship between ethical use of AI and individual privacy; and
The steps taken to inform, support and engage those most affected, including investigations into the threats received by victims’ families.

“No inquiry should be held in the dark, nor take so long as to leave victims behind. It should provide regular progress reports and have a mandate of not more than one year once underway.”

While Premier David Eby committed to using all tools available to get as much information as possible so that what happened in Tumbler Ridge doesn’t happen again, he has not promised a public enquiry.