Mr. Speaker, two years ago today, Canada witnessed one of its deadliest mass shootings, a terrorist attack at a mosque in Ste. Foy, Quebec that killed six Canadians as they worshipped. Make no mistake, this was an attack not only on those gathered at CCIQ that evening, but on our values and the very ideals that have shaped our country, the values of pluralism, friendship and diversity.
Martin Luther King once said, "Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that."
It is in that spirit that a Pickering resident, Ryan Slobojan, began “Push Back the Darkness”, an initiative meant to combat lslamophobia. Tonight, people across Canada will be placing a light in their windows to symbolize their commitment to pushing back the darkness.
Ryan is here today with his daughter Elizabeth and members of the Muslim community across Durham Region to remember the lives lost and to encourage us all to fight back against hatred and intolerance.