Prime minister tells La Loche that government will be there ‘in years to come’

LA LOCHE, Sask. — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau shook hands and gave hugs as he tried to assure a Saskatchewan community scarred by a mass shooting that his government will offer support for years to come.

"The federal government will be there not just now through the difficult time, but in the weeks, months and indeed the years to come as we look to grieve, to heal and to ... thrive," Trudeau said Friday after meeting with leaders and residents of La Loche.

He did not commit to a request from Mayor Kevin Janvier that Ottawa and the province fund infrastructure, health, housing and education in La Loche for the next 10 years.

"I was here very much to listen today," he said. "There is much that we heard today that we entirely agree with and we look forward to working with municipalities and ... the provinces to address these urgent challenges."

He said the shooting highlights deep social issues facing many aboriginal communities across the country, adding his Liberals were elected after promising to work with indigenous people to make their lives better.

"I can't speak for past governments, but I do know that governments of all stripes have not done enough to support and invest in northern and remote communities," Trudeau said.

"This is a reminder that in Canada everyone should have a real and fair chance to succeed regardless of where they were born, regardless of where they live."

Two teenage brothers were killed in a home and a teacher and an aide were shot dead at the high school in the Dene community on Jan. 22. Seven people were wounded.

A 17-year-old boy, who can't be named under the Youth Criminal Justice Act, has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder. Friends have said he was an outcast at home and a victim of bullying at school.

RCMP Supt. Grant St. Germaine said Friday that investigators have yet to uncover a motive, but that the response by La Loche Mounties the day of the shooting was "textbook."

"They followed their training to an exact T," St. Germaine said. "They did what they were trained to do and ... were able to apprehend the suspect very quickly and prevent further loss of life or injury."

The prime minister also said police and medical personnel "undoubtedly saved many lives that day."

He met privately with some of the injured, with family members of the dead and with community leaders and school staff. He also laid flowers in the snow at a makeshift memorial and held a townhall meeting with about 700 residents.

Standing under basketball nets in the elementary school gymnasium, as some children coloured drawings on the floor, Trudeau told the crowd they must not let last week's shooting change what they hold dear.

"We will always denounce terrible acts of violence such as these, but we must remember this tragedy will not, must not, change who we are as individuals, who you are as members of a strong community.

"We must stay true to our values."

On the other side of the country in Quebec City, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry spoke about the shooting after a meeting with Foreign Affairs Minister Stephane Dion.

"The United States knows all too well the anguish caused by senseless acts of violence, and our prayers are with you," he said.

"But we also take heart from the knowledge that Canadians are a very brave and resilient people. No gunman can change that and we are very proud to have you as friends."

As the plane carrying Trudeau lifted off from La Loche's tiny air strip, a line of cars stretching down the only highway into the community followed two hearses carrying the bodies of Drayden Fontaine, 13, and his brother Dayne Fontaine, 17. The two were shot down in the home before the school rampage.

Many people lining the road released balloons into the setting orange sky as the procession passed. Locals said the boys' funeral is to be held Tuesday.

Chris Purdy, The Canadian Press