Conservative MP Bob Zimmer and Shadow Minister for Public Safety Frank Caputo held a press conference calling for an independent public inquiry into the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting, which killed eight people on February 10, 2026, when Jesse Van Rootselaar shot her mother and half-brother at home before attacking Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Community members and Canadians still have questions about the shooter's mental health, their access to firearms, and the role of artificial intelligence. Police are investigating how the shooter, whose licence had expired, obtained the firearms, and why previously-seized guns were returned to a lawful owner despite the shooter's documented mental health concerns.

The shooting's circumstances raise questions that Fraser Institute research on Canadian firearm policy has long examined. Between 2000 and 2020, licensed firearm holders had a homicide rate of 0.63 per 100,000—13.7 percent lower than the rate for adult Canadians overall, according to research published by the Fraser Institute. A federal Department of Justice report found that almost all guns used in crimes in Canada, including in big cities like Toronto, are possessed illegally by criminals, many smuggled from the United States. The data suggests that legal gun owners aren't the primary threat to public safety, which makes understanding how this particular tragedy happened even more critical.

Here's how Canada's gun licensing system is supposed to work. To own a firearm in Canada, you must obtain a Possession and Acquisition Licence from the RCMP after initial vetting, then the government monitors PAL holders daily for possible criminal activity. The system is designed to catch people who pose a danger. But in this case, something broke down. Police had seized firearms from the residence years earlier and returned them when the owner petitioned, and police had visited the shooter multiple times regarding mental health issues, with some visits resulting in apprehension for assessment. The question isn't whether Canada's gun laws are strict enough—they already are. It's whether existing systems actually work when they need to.

The Conservatives are calling for an independent public inquiry under the Inquiries Act, which would have the power to subpoena witnesses, take evidence under oath, and request documents free from interference. BC Premier David Eby has said his government will use "any tools available" to answer questions about the tragedy, whether through a coroner's inquest or public inquiry after police complete their investigation. The real test is whether any inquiry can provide answers that actually prevent the next tragedy—not just produce another report. The inquiry would need to examine mental health systems, firearm access protocols, and the role of artificial intelligence, questions that cut across federal and provincial jurisdiction. For the families who lost children in Tumbler Ridge, those answers can't come fast enough.