Ontario’s SIU to Review Nova Scotia’s Onslow Firehall Incident
Case Number:
N/A
Mississauga, ON (24 November, 2023) ---
In April 2023, in the interests of avoiding any potential or perceived conflict of interest, the
Nova Scotia Serious Incident Response Team (SiRT) asked Ontario’s Special Investigations Unit (SIU) to review information considered by the Joint Federal/Provincial Commission into the April 2020 Nova Scotia Mass Casualty, with respect to shots fired by two RCMP officers at the Onslow Fire Hall on April 19, 2020.
The objective was to assess whether there was any new information that had been reviewed by the Commission that had not been considered in SiRT’s investigation of the shooting. The review concluded that new information was considered. As a result, the SIU has agreed to review any new information to determine if it would impact the SiRT decision, subject to any limitations imposed by law.
The SIU will begin its independent review in the near future, with the goal of completion as soon as reasonably possible.
The Directors of the SIU and the SiRT understand that the issues examined by the Mass Casualty Commission are difficult and that this review may cause psychological distress. If you or someone you know needs support, you can contact the services listed below:
211 Nova Scotia - 211 Nova Scotia is a free, confidential helpline and web service, which connects you to community and social services in Nova Scotia, in over 140 languages, 24/7.
Tel: 2-1-1
Provincial Mental Health and Addictions Crisis Line - provides crisis intervention for children, youth and adults experiencing a mental health crisis or mental distress, 24/7.
Tel: 1-888-429-8167
Kids Help Phone - A national helpline for young people between the ages of 5 and 20, where confidential and anonymous support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Tel: 1-800-668-6868 or Text: CONNECT to 686868
Mental Health and Addictions Intake Service - If you or a family member needs help, you can self-refer to a mental health or addictions clinic, service or program through the 
Nova Scotia Health Authority or 
IWK Health Centre.
Tel: 1-855-922-1122 (Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 4:30pm)
If you or someone you know is an affected person in need of support, please call the Affected Persons Program General Referral Line at 1-877-641-1897 or click here for more information: siu.on.ca/en/apc.php
The SIU is an independent government agency that investigates the conduct of officials (police officers as well as special constables with the Niagara Parks Commission and peace officers with the Legislative Protective Service) that may have resulted in death, serious injury, sexual assault and/or the discharge of a firearm at a person. All investigations are conducted by SIU investigators who are civilians. Under the Special Investigations Unit Act, the Director of the SIU must
- consider whether the official has committed a criminal offence in connection with the incident under investigation
- depending on the evidence, cause a criminal charge to be laid against the official where grounds exist for doing so, or close the file without any charges being laid
- publicly report the results of its investigations
Lisez ce communiqué en français.
Kristy Denette, siu.media@ontario.ca
SIU Communications/Service des communications, UES
