Mr. Speaker, December 6, 1989, is a date now engraved in our collective memory.
Ten years ago today, just after 5 p.m., a seriously disturbed individual entered the École polytechnique and took the lives of 14 young women.
Never before had Quebec witnessed such carnage and the reaction to the killer's reasons, when they became known, was complete shock. The only thing he held against these 14 victims was that they were women seeking to practise a non-traditional profession.
One result of this terrible tragedy has clearly been that society as a whole has taken a closer look at violence against women. Unfortunately, violence still persists, but it is my belief that awareness, education and law enforcement will help reverse the trend. We must continue to repeat that violence is unacceptable.
May the 14 victims of the tragedy at the Polytechnique never let us forget. Together, let us remember Geneviève, Annie, Hélène, Barbara, Anne-Marie, Maud, Maryse, Annie, Sonia, Barbara, Anne-Marie, Michèle, Maryse and Nathalie.
Today, let us take a moment to give special thought to all victims of violence.