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N.S. mass shooting inquiry ‘mechanism’ done as province, Ottawa finalize details

Nova Scotia's justice minister is drawing fire from the Progressive Conservatives who claim he stepped on judicial independence by overriding a recruitment committee struck last year on the appointment of the chief judge of the provincial and family courts. Justice Minister Mark Furey fields question as he holds a bill briefing on the Cannabis Control Act in Halifax on Tuesday, April 3, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Andrew Vaughan. The Canadian Press/Andrew Vaughan

Nova Scotia’s justice minister says most details of a joint federal-provincial inquiry into a mass killing in the province have been finalized.

Mark Furey says he’s working out a time and location for an announcement with his federal counterpart.

Furey said two weeks ago that an announcement was imminent for some form of probe into the rampage on April 18-19 in which a gunman killed 22 people.

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However, Furey said Thursday it’s taken longer than anticipated “to work out the fine details” with his federal counterpart Bill Blair, creating a delay in the announcement.

Furey has said the probe must have certain features, including judicial leadership, the power to compel witnesses to testify and the ability to make binding recommendations.

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He’d also said he and his staff were negotiating with Ottawa to determine the best option, which could include a traditional federal-provincial public inquiry led by an independent commissioner.

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