The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announce appointment of members of the Progress Monitoring Committee

OTTAWA, ON, Sept. 1, 2023 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, and the Honourable Brad Johns, Nova Scotia Attorney General and Minister of Justice, appointed 16 members to the Progress Monitoring Committee (PMC).

Former Justice Linda Oland, Founding Chair of the PMC, led the membership proposal process. Since her appointment on May 31, 2023, Ms. Oland has spoken to families, communities, municipal governments, policing associations, gender-based violence advocacy and support sectors, Indigenous community organizations, African Canadian community organizations, and others mentioned in the Mass Casualty Commission's (MCC) recommendations and findings. In accordance with the MCC's recommendation regarding the diversity of representation, Ms. Oland sought to bring together regional and national perspectives.

Joining the Committee are:  

• Dan Jenkins, family member; (Term: September 1, 2023-August 31, 2024);
• Crystal Mendiuk, family member; (Term: September 1, 2023-August 31, 2024);
• Charlene Bagley, family member; (Term: September 1, 2024-August 31, 2025);
• Scott McLeod, family member; (Term: September 1, 2024-August 31, 2025);
• Jennifer Zahl Bruland, family member; (Term: September 1, 2024-August 31, 2025);
• David Burkholder, family member; (Term: September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026);
• Tammy Oliver-McCurdie, family member; (Term: September 1, 2025-August 31, 2026);
• Mayor Christine Blair, Colchester County (municipal representative from the County of Colchester, Cumberland or Hants);
• Alison Whelan, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Reform, Accountability and Culture, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) (senior representative from the RCMP);
• Simon Coakeley, Vice-Chairperson and Member of the Management Advisory Board for the RCMP (member of the RCMP Management Advisory Board);
• Talal Dakalbab, Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Crime Prevention Branch, Public Safety Canada (senior representative from Public Safety Canada);
• Chief Mark Kane, Chief of Police, Annapolis Royal Police Service (representative from a local, regional, or national policing association);
• Jennifer Glennie, Associate Deputy Minister, Executive Council Office, Government of Nova Scotia (a senior representative from the Government of Nova Scotia);
• Kristina Fifield, Provincial Community Coordinator & Trauma Therapist, Community Based Sexualized Violence Trauma Therapy Program, Avalon Sexual Assault Centre, Halifax (a representative from the gender-based violence advocacy and support sectors, preferably from Nova Scotia);
• Tuma Young, KC (a representative of Indigenous community organizations); and
• Vanessa Fells (a representative of African Canadian community organizations).

The formation of the PMC responds to the Commission's final report, which called on the two governments to establish an independent body to monitor the progress of advancing and responding to the Commission's key findings.

The PMC will soon hold its first meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia, and begin its important work, which includes developing a plan to monitor and report on the initiatives that Canada and Nova Scotia are undertaking in response to the MCC report.

The governments of Canada and Nova Scotia will continue to advance the recommendations set out in the MCC's Final Report to ensure a similar tragedy never happens again.

Quote(s)

"The appointment of the members of the Progress Monitoring Committee is a key step in ensuring that the Mass Casualty Commission's recommendations are addressed. I want to thank Former Justice Oland for her work and for her dedication to those impacted by this tragedy."

-       The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs

"I thank Former Justice Oland for advancing the important work of the Progress Monitoring Committee. As we put the recommendations of the Mass Casualty Commission into action, it is vital that the voices of affected family members, community leaders, and advocates be a central part of the process."

-       The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities

"The Progress Monitoring Committee has an important mandate and I'd like to thank the committee members for taking on this work. The events of April 2020 have forever left a mark on our province and country. This committee will play an important role in ensuring we learn from the past and take meaningful action for the future."

-       The Honourable Brad Johns, Nova Scotia Attorney General and Minister of Justice

"I look forward to working with these new members who will share their knowledge, expertise and commitment to improving public safety and community well-being."
-       Former Justice Linda Oland, Founding Chair, Progress Monitoring Committee 

Quick Facts

• On May 31, 2023, the governments of Canada and Nova Scotia announced the appointment of the Founding Chair of the PMC. The PMC's terms of reference were released on July 31.
  
  
• Through Bill C-21, the Government of Canada is strengthening gun control in line with the recommendations of the MCC.
  
  
• On April 28, 2023, the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia announced a combined $18 million over two years to help address the unmet needs for mental health, grief and bereavement supports in the affected communities, as recommended in the Commission's final report. 
  
  
• On November 9, 2022, the Federal, Provincial, Territorial Ministers responsible for the Status of Women endorsed the National Action Plan to End Gender-based Violence. The National Action Plan is a strategic framework for action within and across jurisdictions with the goal of supporting victims, survivors, and their families, no matter where they live. Bilateral funding agreements are being negotiated with the provinces and territories to support their implementation of the National Action Plan.

Associated Links

• Progress Monitoring Committee
• Terms of Reference for Mass Casualty Commission's Progress Monitoring Committee Released
• Founding Chair of the Mass Casualty Commission's Progress Monitoring Committee appointed

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

Contacts: Jean-Sébastien Comeau, Press Secretary and Senior Communications Advisor, Office of the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, 343-574-8116, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]; Sarah Levy MacLeod, Province of Nova Scotia, 902-225-1291, [email protected]