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MCC Day 39 – Support Services, Family Liaison Officer, and Political Pressure From Feds
MCC Day 38 - Next of Kin Notifications, Witness and Big Stop Video Decisions, and Cst. Dorrrington
Latest Blogs
Insider Legal Analysis of the Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission Public Inquiry
With my work representing the Personal Representative to the late Cpl. Lionel Desmond in the Desmond Fatality Inquiry coming to an end, I have an announcement on my next project. The Nova Scotia Mass Casualty Commission, which will examine the tragic events of April 18-19, 2020 in Portapique and other locations throughout Central Nova Scotia, is set to begin hearings on [...]
MCC Day 42 – Key Witness Schedule Released, and Further Discussion Panels
On the second day of proceedings this week before the Canada Day long weekend, there were three featured items on the MCC agenda. First, there was an announcement on a schedule of significant witnesses who have been subpoenaed to appear over the summer. Then, there were two roundtable discussions, one on mental health impacts on first responders, and one on policing [...]
MCC Day 41 – Roundtable on Needs of Family and Community After a Mass Casualty Incident
After a week of dramatic testimony and revelations which made national news, the MCC is looking to be much quieter as we end the month of June. Today, there was a seven-person roundtable discussion on the mental health needs of families and communities after a mass casualty incident. On Thursday, there will be a similar discussion, focused on the needs of [...]
MCC Day 40 – Brenda Lucki is Not the Problem
On a day when the MCC proceedings included a technical roundtable on communications interoperability, followed by an expert witness presentation on supporting survivors, the main public focus turned to (or remained focused on) a brewing political controversy. The Commissioner of the RCMP, Brenda Lucki, has become the subject of heavy criticism following the revelation that she tried to compel senior NS-based [...]
MCC Day 39 – Support Services, Family Liaison Officer, and Political Pressure From Feds
The proceedings today focused on some of the after-effects of the shootings and the services made available to family members and others. There was a Foundational Document presentation on mental health supports offered, and then witness testimony from Cst. Wayne “Skipper” Bent, who was assigned to be the family liaison officer on behalf of the RCMP. The most explosive part of [...]
MCC Day 38 – Next of Kin Notifications, Witness and Big Stop Video Decisions, and Cst. Dorrington
The proceedings in the Mass Casualty Commission today focused on two decisions released by the Commissioners, a presentation on how next of kin notifications were (mis)handled, and we heard from outspoken Cst. Nick Dorrington. The first of the two decisions referenced today dealt with requests by some of the participants for changes to the rules on questioning of witnesses, along with [...]
MCC Day 37 – Service Providers and Colchester Political Leaders
The MCC’s short week of proceedings continued and concluded today with two further ‘small group’ sessions. The morning session featured service providers from Victim’s Services, the Medical Examiners office, and a funeral director. In the afternoon session, we heard from MLA Tom Taggart, and Mayor Christine Blair. It is in the mandate of the MCC to look at the services that [...]