The Prime Minister marked the sixth anniversary of the La Loche shooting Saturday by asking all Canadians to pay tribute to loss of innocent life.
On January 22, 2016, a 17-year-old youth went on a shooting rampage, killing four people and seriously injuring seven others.
“On this sombre anniversary, I join the people of Saskatchewan and all Canadians to remember and pay tribute to the innocent lives that were lost. We offer our deepest sympathies to the survivors as well as the victims’ families and friends who continue to endure the pain of loss and trauma caused by this attack,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Randan Fontaine, who was two weeks shy of his 18th birthday at the time of the incident, was sentenced as an adult. He pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder and seven counts of attempted murder.
In 2019, Fontaine appealed his adult sentence, claiming he should have been sentenced as a youth. The Sask Court of Appeal rejected his bid and the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear his appeal. The publication ban, barring the release of his name expired after his legal avenues ended.
Trudeau says since that tragic day, his government has committed to investing over $600 million in for distinctions-based approaches to mental wellness for First Nations, Inuit, and the Métis Nation.