Mr. Speaker, this weekend, I was at an Ismaili Muslim mosque with my two sons. As I struggled to keep my restless sons focused, I realized actually how lucky I was that my biggest challenge that day was quieting my kids.
Three years ago, Muslim parents in Quebec City were not so lucky.
On January 29, 2017, parents at the Centre culturel islamique did not have the chance to discipline their children because they were trying to protect them from a terrorist who was so consumed by hate that he fired on Muslims who were praying. While trying to protect their children, six innocent men lost their lives simply because they were Muslims.
Recognizing this as a murderous Islamophobic act is critical. However, equally critical is ensuring that Muslim Canadians, indeed that every Canadian, can feel safe in their place of worship.
Those six heroes will have died in vain if we do not as parliamentarians redouble our efforts to combat the hatred that spawned this act of terror. That is the work I am committed to do, and I invite every member of the House to join me.