Mr. Speaker, today is the national day of remembrance and action to end violence against women.
We remember the 14 women who lost their lives at l'École polytechnique de Montreal. We remember all Canadian women whose lives were ended by senseless acts of violence, who were taken away from family and friends.
This year 15 women lost their lives to violence in my home province of Manitoba. These women are more than statistics; they are mothers, daughters, sisters, friends and neighbours.
As a nation we mourn their loss and the tomorrows they will never see. We as legislators mourn but remember that we also must act today to educate, to support and to protect. We must make a commitment to the women of Canada, to all Canadians and to ourselves to stop violence.