R-C-M-P Commissioner Brenda Lucki apologized yesterday for her force’s failure to meet public expectations during the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shooting, saying she hopes trust will return with time.
She apologized that the R-C-M-P were not what the public wanted or needed them to be near the end of her second day of testimony at a public inquiry.
The inquiry is looking into how a 51-year-old denturist with a record of violence acquired a replica police vehicle, semi-automatic weapons and carried out 22 murders over 13 hours on April 18th and 19th, 2020.
Nova Scotia’s justice minister is contradicting testimony by senior Mounties at the inquiry into the 2020 mass shooting that his province chronically underfunds the R-C-M-P for policing services.
Brad Johns says the problems within the R-C-M-P that are surfacing at the inquiry represent an “internal issue” in the force and do not involve the province.
Johns told reporters yesterday that any time the R-C-M-P has come forward with concerns around resourcing, the province has “stepped up.”
This week, retired commander of the Nova Scotia R-C-M-P Lee Bergerman and Commissioner Brenda Lucki told the inquiry that the force will require more resources because the costs of policing continue to rise.
The Nova Scotia government is not reinstating COVID-19 protections like mask mandates when children return to public schools next month.
Education Minister Becky Druhan says in a statement that schools will continue to have hand sanitizer available and masks for those who choose to wear them.
Druhan also says students will be able to participate in the full range of extra-curricular activities, including band, clubs, sports and field trips, following two years of COVID-19 restrictions.
Nova Scotia Premier Tim Houston says any private health-care options that might be implemented by the province would be integrated within the public system.
Houston has not been specific about the private health care options being considered — but told reporters following a cabinet meeting Wednesday that his government is committed to strengthening the public health system.
The premier adds Nova Scotians won’t need anything other than their public health cards to obtain services.
Houston also notes that the province has been using a private clinic in the Halifax area to conduct day surgeries since 2008.
Gas prices fell in New Brunswick overnight, while diesel prices increased.
Gas prices went down 5.3 cents per litre, putting the maximum prices for regular self-serve gasoline in New Brunswick at 175.2 cents per litre.
Diesel increased 10.7 cents per litre to a maximum of 206.9 cents per litre.
Nova Scotia sets its fuel prices at midnight tonight.
RCMP say an 84-year-old man is dead following the crash of a dump truck.The collision occurred Wednesday on the Pictou Landing Road in Chance Harbour.Police say the truck left the road and ended up in a ditch.The driver, who was from Linacy, died at the scene.
