Committee overseeing N.S. mass casualty recommendations says progress being made, but more to be done

Action is happening to address partner-violence and access to firearms.

That’s according to the Progress Monitoring Committee, who released their first annual update on recommendations from the Mass Casualty Commission’s report on the 2020 Nova Scotia mass shootings.

Committee chair Myra Freeman says it covers 24 of the 130 recommendations.

“And we know that addressing all the recommendations will take time, but as a committee, we’re encouraged by the level of commitment that the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia, and the RCMP have put in on this work,” said Freeman.

There have been three deaths due to gender-based violence in Nova Scotia this fall.

Freeman says it’s heartbreaking, and a national action plan is being worked on.

She says they’re holding the governments and RCMP accountable.

“It’s not a matter of a race against time or speed, it’s a matter of quality monitoring. We need to get this right and take the time we need to move these things forward.”

You can read the full report here.

Premier reacts:

Premier Tim Houston says they are committed to advancing the Mass Casualty Commission’s final report.

He says intimate partner violence is an epidemic in Nova Scotia, and his government passed legislation on the issue.

Houston adds that they’ve funded victim services, community organizations and transition houses.

He acknowledges more needs to be done in other areas.