Mr. Speaker, on December 6, 1989 the reality of the issue of violence against women was forcefully brought home to Canadians and to the world community when 14 young women were gunned down at École Polytechnique in Montreal.
As a result, Canadians from coast to coast to coast faced that tragedy, first with profound shock and horror and then with determination and the conviction that violence against women must end.
Today, to honour the memory of those 14 young women, I urge all of my colleagues in the House and Canadians across this great country to pause and reflect on December 6, the national day of remembrance and action on violence against women.
We must all collectively work together to effect real change and to ensure that no woman must live or die in the shadow of violence.