Mr. Speaker, March 8 is International Women's Day. This day is an opportunity to celebrate the many important achievements of women over the past centuries as well as today. It is also a time to pay tribute to the women who are so important to us in our daily lives: our partners, mothers, sisters, daughters, colleagues and friends.
You will no doubt recall that International Women's Day was instituted after the major strikes that took place in the middle of the 19th century, when industrialization drew women to the labour market in droves.
In 1977, the United Nations officially invited nations to dedicate one day to celebrating the equality of women. As a new century draws near, efforts in support of gender equality must not only continue but increase.
Mr. Speaker, my colleagues, please join me in celebrating International Women's Day.