Trudeau Liberals pressured commissioner after NS mass shooting: RCMP official

The letter, dated April 14, 2021, says that the RCMP commissioner wanted to help push the Liberal Party's agenda and said so much during a call on April 28, 2020, after the shooting.

Lucki's comments were made after Supt. Darren Campbell told reporters that revealing the weapons used could jeopardize the investigation.

The letter is part of the evidence provided to a public inquiry into the April 18-19, 2020 mass shooting, The Canadian Press reports.

Scanlan said that Lucki was upset that the info about the guns was not revealed, saying that they had let down surviving children whose parents were killed by the lone gunman.

Scanlan's note said that Lucki told those in the meeting that she was facing "pressures and conversation with Minister (Bill) Blair, which we clearly understood was related to the upcoming passing of the gun legislation."

Scanlan, the then-strategic communications director, said she felt "a feeling of disgust as I realized this was the catalyst for the conversation and perhaps a justification for what you were saying about us."

Notes from Campbell echo those sentiments, reading: "The Commissioner said she had promised the Minister of Public Safety and the Prime Minister’s Office that the RCMP (we) would release this information. I tried to explain there was no intent to disrespect anyone however we could not release this information at this time. The Commissioner then said that we didn’t understand, that this was tied to pending gun control legislation that would make officers and the public safer. She was very upset and at one point Deputy Commissioner (Brian) Brennan tried to get things calmed down but that had little effect. Some in the room were reduced to tears and emotional over this belittling reprimand."

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has denied that his office or the office of the public safety minister put any "undue pressure" on Lucki or the RCMP.