‘Just how could this happen?’: Trudeau speaks to nation about ‘senseless tragedy’

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau used his entire national address Monday morning to talk about the mass shootings in Nova Scotia, which he says “jolted” Canadians from their common cause to defeat COVID-19.

A gunman claimed the lives of at least 18 people including an RCMP constable in what Trudeau called “senseless violence.”

“This tragedy is a painful reminder of the risks all of our first responders take to keep us safe, of the sacrifices they make every day,” said a sombre Trudeau outside his residence in Ottawa.

“Just how could this happen? We may never know why, but we do know this: No one man’s action can build a wall between us and a better day no matters how evil, how thoughtless or how destructive. Canadians are kind and generous. We are there for one each other and we look out for one another,” stated Trudeau.

Trudeau said a virtual vigil will be held for the victims Friday night, and he asked the media not to use the name and picture of the gunman in their stories.

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“Do not give him the gift of infamy. Let us instead focus all our attention on the lives we lost and the families and friends who grieve.”

Trudeau said it’s too soon to say if tighter gun control laws could have prevented the tragedy.

“This is very much an ongoing investigation in its early stages and I don’t want to jump to conclusions about what happened until we get a full accounting from authorities. But in regards to gun control, we took very serious commitments in the election campaign, and we’re moving forward to ensure we’re strengthening gun control in this country.”

Trudeau said his government will pursue banning assault style weapons after the COVID crisis is dealt with

The PM would not commit to relaxing the restrictions to allow grieving families in Nova Scotia to bury their loved ones, noting others who haven’t been able to attend funerals the last while, but said that would be under discussion.

He also told the nation, negotiations continue with the Conservatives to find a compromise on in-person sittings in the House of Commons, but said he didn’t want to get involved in partisan bickering today.

“Most of the parties agree, and there will be further discussions today to try and figure out what the process should be,” he told the media.

Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer says Parliament will reopen this morning.

He is blaming the NDP and Bloc Quebecois for siding with the Liberals in trying to limit debate and discussion around the government’s COVID-19 response.

All three parties have agreed to a single in-person sitting per week that can eventually be supplemented with virtual sittings.

But Scheer says that’s not enough, and it is possible for Parliament to safely meet more often.

Without a unanimous agreement, Parliament simply resumes as normal though not all 338 MPs have to be present.