Ottawa – Prime Minister Mark Carney has cancelled planned travel to Halifax and Munich, Germany, following a deadly school shooting in Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia. The decision, announced Wednesday, underscores the gravity of the situation as the nation grapples with the aftermath of the tragedy.
The shooting, which unfolded on Tuesday, has left ten people dead, including the suspected shooter who died of an apparent self-inflicted injury. Seven victims were killed at the high school in the northeastern B.C. Town, with two additional bodies discovered at a residence connected to the incident. The RCMP are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack.
Carney, who was scheduled to announce his government’s defence industrial strategy in Halifax before attending the Munich Security Conference, stated he was “devastated” by the shooting. “I join Canadians in grieving with those whose lives have been changed irreversibly today,” he said in a statement. He has asked for flags on Parliament Hill to be lowered to half-mast for the next week as a sign of national mourning.
The cancellation of Carney’s trip to the Munich Security Conference, a key annual gathering of global political and business leaders focused on security policy and defence, is a significant shift. The conference is taking place against a backdrop of heightened geopolitical uncertainty, particularly with ongoing disruptions to the global order. Canada’s absence at the highest level will be noted by allies and partners.
In Carney’s place, Defence Minister David McGuinty, Foreign Affairs Minister Anita Anand, and Artificial Intelligence Minister Evan Solomon will attend the Munich conference. The announcement of the defence industrial strategy has been postponed to a later date. The Prime Minister’s Office confirmed that Carney remains in the National Capital Region.
Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree and Housing Minister Gregor Robertson are currently en route to Tumbler Ridge to lead the federal response. Robertson, who hails from British Columbia, will join Anandasangaree in providing support to the community. Nina Krieger, the province’s Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor-General, is also expected to be on the ground.
The Prime Minister’s Office emphasized the government’s commitment to supporting the community during this difficult time. “Our officials are in close contact with their counterparts to ensure the community is fully supported as best we can,” the statement read. “The Government of Canada stands with all British Columbians as they confront this horrible tragedy.”
The tragedy in Tumbler Ridge has prompted an outpouring of grief and shock across Canada. The small mining community, located in a remote part of British Columbia, is now grappling with the immense loss and trauma. The incident raises familiar questions about gun control, mental health support, and community safety in Canada, issues that have been debated nationally following previous incidents of gun violence.
Carney’s decision to remain in Canada and prioritize the national response reflects the seriousness with which the government is treating the situation. The cancellation of his international engagements signals a clear message of solidarity with the victims, their families, and the community of Tumbler Ridge. The focus now is on providing immediate support and beginning the long process of healing and recovery.
The Prime Minister, visibly emotional when addressing reporters, underscored the importance of national unity in times of crisis. “Our ability to come together in crisis is the best of our country — our empathy, our unity, and our compassion for each other,” he stated. This sentiment is likely to resonate across Canada as the nation mourns and seeks to understand the events that unfolded in Tumbler Ridge.
