Mr. Speaker, violence against women is unacceptable any way, anytime and anywhere. In Canada one woman is killed every six and one half days by a gun. Four out of every five victims of spousal homicide are women.
These statistics confirm a fundamental abuse of power, an abhorrent violation of human rights. All too often violence against women goes unpunished. All too often it is tolerated in silence by its victims.
This government has sent a powerful message through gun control legislation, anti-stalking amendments, rape shield laws and other amendments to the Criminal Code. This is not enough. Canadians as a community must become motivated to break this cycle of violence.
I urge members of this House and Canadians everywhere to break the silence and eradicate violence against women now.
Canada must be a safer place for our wives, mothers, daughters and sisters; for women everywhere.