FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 27, 2026
BC Greens Support Tumbler Ridge Inquiry, Say It Must Examine Full Scope of Systemic Failures
VICTORIA, B.C. – BC Green MLAs Rob Botterell, MLA for Saanich North and the Islands, and Jeremy Valeriote, MLA for West Vancouver–Sea to Sky, are voicing their support for a public inquiry into the tragedy in Tumbler Ridge that examines the full spectrum of failures that contributed to it.
“There are many aspects to the tragic events in Tumbler Ridge, and they deserve a full and careful examination. As we saw following the horrific tragedy in Nova Scotia, a public inquiry is the right approach to examine the breadth of issues involved and to ensure we receive the systemic answers we need,” said Botterell.
“This is not about assigning blame. It is about understanding the full spectrum of factors that led to such a devastating event and developing meaningful recommendations to prevent it from happening again. That spectrum includes mental health supports, policing responses, health and housing considerations, firearms access, and emerging technologies including artificial intelligence,” he added.
Valeriote cautioned against oversimplifying the causes of the tragedy and urged for action on the Mental Health Act Review and further mental health support.
“As with past attempts to blame violent video games for real-world violence, we cannot reduce a complex and devastating event to a single cause,” he said. “The Tumbler Ridge incident is a tragedy shaped by a web of systemic failures.”
“OpenAI must be part of a fulsome review that respects any criminal investigation and looks across the full scope of what happened on February 10 and the events leading up to that day. This will allow the government to act on systemic issues, including any related to a lack of access to mental health supports,” Valeriote added. “We need our governments to lead the charge and be more transparent with how it’s tackling these complex and emerging issues.”
Botterell pointed to the cooperation shown by leaders across party lines in recent weeks and welcomed the Premier’s stated commitment in principle to proceed with a public inquiry.
“We have seen parties from different backgrounds and platforms come together in unity in the face of tragedy,” he said. “That same collaborative spirit should guide the development of the inquiry’s terms of reference so that it has the broadest possible support and public confidence.”
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Media Contact
Ryan Hook
Press Secretary
BC Green Caucus
+1 250-882-6187 | ryan.hook@leg.bc.ca