Carney points to federal review on SKS rifle after Tumbler Ridge revelations

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney indicated Thursday the federal government will look at the advice of an arm’s-length panel studying firearms classification before making any decision on the status of the SKS rifle.

He made the remarks as his public safety minister declined to explain why such a weapon might have been returned to the teenage shooter in the Tumbler Ridge mass killing, after having previously been confiscated by the RCMP.

That claim is contained in an FBI complaint filed in a Washington state court that says the killer talked about having an SKS and a “switch” for this type of rifle, which likely referred to a machine-gun conversion device.

Eighteen-year-old Jesse Van Rootselaar, who killed eight people in the Feb. 10 attack before taking her own life, is also cited in the complaint as saying she intended to use the SKS returned by police in the attack.

The federal government is undertaking a review of Canada’s firearms classification regime that will include consultations on the SKS rifle.

At an event in Sherbrooke, Que., Carney said the government needed advice from professionals and the RCMP before making further decisions on firearms classification.

He cited “constant changes” in firearms that necessitated input from police and others.

The government has been heavily criticized by gun control advocates for not including the semi-automatic SKS on its list of banned firearms.

The FBI complaint released this week is in support of a charge of conspiracy to murder in a foreign country against 30-year-old James Bryant, who is accused of advising and supporting Van Rootselaar for months as she planned then carried out the murders.

It includes excerpts of conversations between the two where Van Rootselaar allegedly says she stole guns and ammunition from her family’s gun safe.

The complaint also quotes Van Rootselaar as telling Bryant that police confiscated the SKS and damaged the sights, so when they returned it, the weapon was firing “high and to the left.”

“So, it’s a lot of work and I may end up doing my plan with a gun with sights that are super off,” she is quoted as saying, adding that she knows how the gun fires and “I’m sure I can still do fine.”

Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree declined Thursday to “opine” on why guns were apparently returned to the shooter’s home before the massacre.

He said the RCMP investigation was ongoing and had been careful not to speculate until it was complete.

Anandasangaree said at an unrelated news conference in Ottawa that the government was focused on supporting the community of Tumbler Ridge.

“Their ultimate demand is about making sure that we have the right answers, and it is premature, in my opinion, to offer and opine on those answers without having the full benefit of the information that the investigation will reveal,” he said when asked about the guns.

Anandasangaree said that as recently as two months ago, he did not believe there would be an arrest made and the charging of Bryant this week showed the investigation was progressing.

“And we see now that is a reality and we want to see justice being served, and we will continue to monitor and support both the investigation as well as the community as the investigation concludes,” he said, directing any questions about the guns to the B.C. RCMP.

A spokeswoman for the Mounties said in an email that information about the firearms mentioned in the FBI complaint is “subject to ongoing court processes in Canada.”

“As the firearms are subject to this publication ban, I cannot provide any context at this time into the firearms that are depicted in the criminal complaint until the courts make a determination on disclosure,” Staff Sgt. Kris Clark said.

The FBI complaint also says Van Rootselaar had been institutionalized twice, having been deemed a danger to herself.

— With files by Brieanna Charlebois in Vancouver

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2026.

Jim Bronskill, The Canadian Press