Mr. Speaker, 23 years ago today, on the evening of December 6, 1989, the country was horrified to learn that an armed man had entered the École Polytechnique in Montreal and killed 14 smart, young and promising women, simply because they were women.
Parliament designated this day to remember that gender-based violence is not a thing of the past. By commemorating this day every year, we remember that violence against women exists in our society.
While we will never be able to make sense of this tragedy, we can work together to move forward. That is why our government is committed to protecting society's most vulnerable and continuing to take a stand in combatting violence against women at home and abroad.
Today, on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, let us join the families and the friends of those lost in the Montreal massacre and honour their memory by redoubling efforts to eradicate all violence against women and girls.