Mr. Speaker, we have made gains in Canada in electing more women to all levels of government across our country. However, as new communications media, such as Twitter, change how we talk to each other and as more women choose to run for office, we must continue to stand vigilant against sexist vitriol geared to objectifying and belittling women in office.
I want to congratulate Ms. Diamond Isinger for her blog project Madam Premier, the purpose of which is to shed light on these types of comments.
I also want to thank my colleagues in this place who have reached across party lines to stand up for one another and me when this type of language comes to their attention, which, sadly, still occurs with some frequency.
Judge us on our policy and judge us on our performance. On behalf of all of my colleagues, all of the women in my life who have supported me in this journey—and this one is for them—all the women who have fought for our right to be here and all the women I certainly hope will follow us to this place, I know that together we will not tolerate those who seek to belittle us based on our gender.
We should name it and shame it.