A federal briefing prepared for Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that “false claims” and “misinformation” were circulating online in the days following a deadly school shooting in rural British Columbia.
A federal briefing prepared for Prime Minister Mark Carney warned that “false claims” and “misinformation” were circulating online in the days following a deadly school shooting in rural British Columbia, according to a partially redacted document released under access-to-information law.
The memo, dated three days after the February 11, 2026, shooting at secondary school in Tumbler Ridge, BC, also said officials were tracking early signs of public polarization emerging on social media. The attack left nine people dead, mostly school-aged children, and injured dozens more.
The shooter, identified by the RCMP as 18-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police said the individual was born male and later transitioned to female.
Prepared by the Privy Council Office, the document included an appendix analyzing public “sentiment” in the immediate aftermath of the attack. It described widespread “grief, shock, and national mourning,” alongside expressions of support for victims and families.
“Early signs of polarization are emerging,” the note stated, “particularly on social media, where identity-related narratives, policy debates, and misinformation are beginning to fragment public discourse.”
The memo also said polarization was appearing in discussions about the shooter’s identity, including “identity-based political commentary,” “disputes over police handling of gender identity,” and “hostile exchanges between ideological groups.”
“False claims and misinformation involving transgender violence have circulated online,” the document said. “Media reporting confirms social media narratives fuelling anti-trans rhetoric.”
It also noted that Women and Gender Equality Canada could provide support resources, pointing to its funding of LGBTQ organizations and stating the incident affected the “broader trans” and LGBTQ community.
An anti-stigma campaign launched by the department was referenced as a possible tool for community response. “This may be useful for community leaders, educators and parents to discuss these issues with children and others impacted by the tragedy,” the memo said.
On firearms-related issues, the briefing said online discussion was shifting from grief toward questions about prevention, including mental health intervention and firearms access. It also referenced concerns about whether warning signs had been missed.
“The RCMP noted that the suspect’s motives remained unclear,’ the memo said.
It added that the incident had “already given rise to more discussion around gun control.”
Under a “communications risk assessment” section, the document identified “criticism of firearms regulations” and “mental health system accountability” as medium risks, while classifying “identity-based polarization,” “misinformation polarization,” and “politicization of tragedy” as high risks.
The memo also said that while the online environment remained largely empathetic in the immediate aftermath, it was “beginning to fragment into policy and identity debates” and was “highly vulnerable to polarization and misinformation amplification.”
Police have said a long gun and a handgun were recovered from the scene. Officers also seized firearms from a family residence where Van Rootselaar’s mother and step-brother were found dead, believed to have been killed before the school attack. Investigators said the suspect had a gun licence that expired in 2024 and did not have registered firearms.
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