Mr. Speaker, December 6 marks the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women.
Today we honour the memory of the 14 young women who were slain at Montreal's École Polytechnique.
We continue to observe this day because violence against women is still a fact of life in communities across Canada. We know that over half the women in our country have been the object of violence, be it physical, sexual, psychological, financial or spiritual.
Last year there were over 85,000 admissions of abused women and their dependant children to transition houses across the country. Women who are subjected to and suffer long periods of violence often end up with long term health problems. Their physical and mental injuries affect them, their families and their communities.
The cost of violence relating to health and well-being is over $1.5 billion per year.
The next generation of Canadians needs us to build the foundation for a violence free Canada. Violence is totally unacceptable.
Let us all work together to eliminate violence, not only against women, but all violence, wherever present.