{{Short description|Canadian public inquiry}} The '''Nunn Commission of Inquiry''' (Nunn Commission-December 2006<ref>{{Cite web| title=Spiralling out of Control - Lessons learned from a boy in trouble | url=http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/nunn_commission/_docs/Report_Nunn_Final.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608052602/http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/nunn_commission/_docs/Report_Nunn_Final.pdf | archive-date=2011-06-08}}</ref>) was a landmark public inquiry into Canada's youth criminal justice system. It was chaired by the Hon. D. Merlin Nunn, a retired Justice of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia. The Nunn Commission examined the events of October 14, 2004, in which Theresa McEvoy, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, a 52-year-old teacher's aide and mother of three boys, was killed when the car she was travelling in was broadsided by another vehicle. The other car had been stolen and was being driven at high speeds by a serial young offender who had been mistakenly released from jail just two days previously.
== Background ==
On October 14, 2004 Archibald (Archie) Billard, then 16, stole a car in Lower Sackville Nova Scotia. After consuming large amounts of cannabis, Billard drove the car at a high rate of speed through downtown Halifax where he struck McEvoy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/halifax-family-demands-inquiry-into-fatal-crash-1.476901 |website=CBC News}}</ref>
The death of McEvoy happened at a time of increased concern about youth crime in Nova Scotia. In the investigation following McEvoy's death it was determined that Billard, though only 16, was already facing multiple charges at the time he stole the car, and had been released from custody only two days earlier.<ref>{{cite news |title=N.S. Premier wants teens gone wild to pay |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ns-premier-wants-teens-gone-wild-to-pay/article1081055/ |website=The Globe and Mail |date=29 August 2007 |access-date=2023-11-23}}</ref> A public outcry about McEvoy's death and a perceived problem with growing youth crime lead to the formation of the Nunn Commission, a landmark public inquiry into Canada's youth criminal justice system.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/teen-convicted-in-car-crash-death-of-halifax-woman-gets-day-parole-1.691154 |website=CBC News}}</ref>
== The Commission == The Commission convened on June 29, 2005. The Commissioner was charged with: * determining what happened * what the youth criminal justice policies and procedures were at the time and whether they were adequate * determining what actions of law enforcement and Justice officials took in relation to this incident * determining the reasons why the offender was released, and * judging the adequacy of legislation governing youth criminal justice in Canada
Over 31 days of testimony, Commissioner Nunn heard from 47 witnesses, including the families of the principals, policing agencies, Government and court officials, educational officials, and the legal establishment. Chief commission counsel was Michael J. Messenger of Cox & Palmer. Nine parties were represented. The Commissioner tabled his final report on December 5, 2006.<ref>[http://www.gov.ns.ca/just/nunn_commission/_docs/Report_Nunn_Final.pdf%5D report]</ref> The report tabled 34 recommendations in the areas of youth justice administration and accountability, youth crime legislation, and prevention of youth crime. The Commissioner's findings focused much attention on the deficiencies of the ''Youth Criminal Justice Act'', which was cited as an important factor that led to the tragedy, along with improvements in responding to "at-risk" children and youth in Nova Scotia.
The Government of Nova Scotia accepted all of the Commissioner's recommendations and published an official response.<ref>{{cite web|title=Helping Kids, Protecting Communities: Response to the Nunn Commission|url=http://gov.ns.ca/just/nunn_commission/_docs/NunnResponse.pdf|work=Report|publisher=Government of Nova Scotia|accessdate=December 8, 2011}}</ref>
== After the Commission == The Nunn Commission's findings have been cited<ref>{{cite web|title=Publication No. 41-1-C10-E |url=http://www.parl.gc.ca/About/Parliament/LegislativeSummaries/bills_ls.asp?Language=E&ls=c10&Parl=41&Ses=1&source=library_prb |work=Legislative Summary of Bill C-10|publisher=Parliament of Canada}}</ref> as a significant factor in proposed changes to the ''Youth Criminal Justice Act''. However, Commissioner Nunn has made public comments disagreeing with some aspects of the proposed legislation.<ref>{{cite web |last=Cohen |first=Tobi |url=http://blogs.canada.com/2011/11/24/author-of-tory-supported-study-says-crime-bill-goes-too-far/|title=Author of Tory-supported study says crime bill goes too far |date=November 24, 2011|publisher=Canada.com|accessdate=December 8, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web | url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/mcevoy-inquiry-to-release-findings-1.620417 |title = McEvoy inquiry to release findings | CBC News}}</ref>{{Update inline|reason=What happened to the "proposed legislation" in 2011?|date=March 2022}}
Billard's case continues to be a focus of discussion in Nova Scotian politics in relation to issues of youth justice, restorative justice, and education.<ref>{{cite web |title=At-risk kids ill-served by Nova Scotia |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/opinion/paul-bennett-at-risk-kids-ill-served-by-nova-scotias-tepid-approach-on-child-advocate-100735231/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |publisher=Saltwire Media |last1=Bennett |first1=Paul }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The RCMP repeatedly shows a reckless disregard for public safety |url=https://www.halifaxexaminer.ca/morning-file/the-rcmp-repeatedly-shows-a-reckless-disregard-for-public-safety/ |website=The Halifax Examiner|date=11 December 2020 }}</ref>
In 2006 Billard was tried as an adult and sentenced to four years and ten months in prison.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/teen-convicted-in-car-crash-death-of-halifax-woman-gets-day-parole-1.691154 |publisher=CBC News}}</ref>
In June 2009 Billard was entitled to a statutory release, despite misgivings from the parole board that he was likely to re-offend. Four months later he was arrested for speeding in an unregistered vehicle and returned to prison.<ref>{{cite web |title=Teen convicted in car crash death of Halifax woman gets day parole |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/teen-convicted-in-car-crash-death-of-halifax-woman-gets-day-parole-1.691154 |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=CBC News}}</ref> In February 2010 he was again released, though his case management team described his risk as "unmanageable" and recommend against it.<ref>{{cite web |title=Archie Billard paroled despite "unmanageable" risk |url=https://halifax.citynews.ca/2010/02/25/archie-billard-paroled-despite-unmanageable-risk/ |access-date=2023-11-23 |website=Halifax City News|date=25 February 2010 }}</ref> He broke his conditions and returned to prison. In 2011 he was sentenced to nine months in prison for driving while prohibited and violating his conditions.<ref>{{cite web |title=Archie Billard sentenced to 9 months |url=https://www.ctvnews.ca/atlantic/article/archie-billard-sentenced-to-9-months-will-serve-2/ |website=CTV News|date=10 June 2011 }}</ref> In 2015 he was charged with robbing a gas station in Truro, Nova Scotia.<ref>{{cite web |title=Man charged in Truro gas station robbery |url=https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/federal-election/man-charged-in-truro-gas-station-robbery-146710/ |website=SaltWire News}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
Category:Canadian commissions and inquiries Nova Scotia, Nunn_Commission