Senator Gold: I am not in a position to tell you why the events unfolded as you have described, but I can assure you that the federal government will do what it can, in conjunction with the Government of Nova Scotia, to assist those in the communities affected by the tragedy.

[English]

Hon. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu: Senator Gold, yesterday and today we are marking the terrible tragedy in Portapique, Nova Scotia. It was a tragic event that cost the lives of 22 people and one unborn child. It left dozens of families in mourning. This is the worst massacre in modern Canadian history and the victims’ families have had to cope with immeasurable pain while being left in dark about government support.

While Justin Trudeau made a $300-million fund available to victims of Hurricane Fiona, the families in Portapique have been ignored and have had to use their own financial resources to cover the costs of losing their loved ones and rebuilding their own mental health.

Why didn’t the Prime Minister take the time to meet the families who were present during the tabling of the Mass Casualty Commission’s report on March 30, in Nova Scotia, to express his sympathy? It was the deadliest mass shooting Canada has ever known.