House of Commons holds moment of silence for victims of B.C. shooting

OTTAWA – Members of Parliament held a moment of silence, and party leaders delivered statements in the House of Commons on Wednesday, urging unity and kindness in honour of the victims of the mass shooting in Tumbler Ridge, B.C.

“What happened has left our nation in shock and all of us in mourning,” Prime Minister Mark Carney said.

RCMP reported Wednesday afternoon that nine people were killed, including the alleged suspect, in a shooting at a school and a home in the small town in northeastern B.C. on Tuesday.

The victims include a female teacher, three girls and two boys between the ages of 13 and 17, as well as the alleged suspect’s mother and stepbrother.

Mounties changed the death toll from 10, saying they originally believed one of the victims airlifted to hospital had died.

Carney said Tuesday’s events have left the nation in a state of shock and mourning.

“Mr. Speaker, in the days ahead, there will be important questions to ask and difficult conversations to have,” Carney said. “We owe that to the victims and to their families. But today, however, is for grieving and remembrance. Today is for the people of Tumbler Ridge and the Peace River region — for a community enduring the unimaginable.”

Carney said the investigation is ongoing and that law enforcement must be allowed time and space to do their work thoroughly.

The prime minister said Tumbler Ridge is a town of miners, teachers and construction workers and that it represents “the very best of Canada.”

Carney said he has spoken with B.C. Premier David Eby to express his condolences. Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree was to join Eby in Tumbler Ridge, later on Wednesday, the Prime Minister’s Office said in a statement.

“Our officials are in close contact with their provincial and local counterparts to ensure that the community receives every support that we can provide, now and in the weeks and months ahead,” Carney said.

Flags on federal buildings will be flown at half-mast for seven days to honour the victims.

Normal proceedings in the House of Commons were suspended Wednesday, including question period, planned votes and debate on bills. Instead MPs gathered briefly at 2 p.m., held a moment of silence and heard from party leaders, before suspending until Thursday morning.

In his remarks, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said children who should have been thinking about homework and hockey were instead thrown into “terror, grief and unbearable uncertainty.”

“No parent should ever have to fear that their child will not return home from school,” said Poilievre, adding that all members of Parliament stand with the families of the victims. “Canadians across the land are thinking of you. The world is thinking of you.”

Poilievre said there is “no partisanship on this day” and that Conservatives will work with the federal government, provincial leaders and local government to support the community.

Yves-François Blanchet, leader of the Bloc Québécois, said in French that his thoughts are with the victims of this “nameless, senseless” violence. He said the government could count on his party’s “full co-operation” if there was anything it needed to support those in mourning. 

“Today, Quebec and British Columbia have never been closer,” Blanchet said, adding that all Quebecers are remembering the École Polytechnique tragedy.

Blanchet said Quebec also stands with those in the community of Kitigan Zibi, where Quebec provincial police say a father fatally shot his two children before taking his own life.

Don Davies, interim NDP leader and MP for Vancouver Kingsway, said the nation is in mourning. 

“To the families who are mourning, we grieve with you,” he said. “We stand behind you and we hold you in our hearts.”

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 11, 2026.