Mr. Speaker, today is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women . This is, first of all, a day to commemorate an act of hate and violence against women. But violence against women did not start with the death of 14 women at École Polytechnique in Montreal, and unfortunately did not end there either.
Violence against women knows no boundaries and often deprives its victims of the ability to speak up or stand up for themselves. Some women experience it daily and fear for their lives and that of their children and family members. Others, like more than 60 women from Vancouver's downtown east side, have simply gone missing, because someone thought that they did not matter or would not be missed.
We are all human beings, regardless of our social standing, race, religion or gender, and all lives are precious. We must all ensure that women are never alone or forgotten, especially on this National Day—