Madam Speaker, candles, roses, beams of light, masculinism, harassment, violence, hate; it has been 35 years today. Thirty-five years ago, 14 women full of promise and ambition lost their lives at the hands of a man in a tragic act of anti-feminism. There is no hiding what was behind this act.
These leaders of tomorrow were ripped from their future, but their memory pushes us to action. That is why we have taken robust measures with respect to so-called assault-style firearms, including expanding the list of banned guns in Canada yesterday.
Women are strong and courageous. Their safety and their freedom must be protected. To be a feminist is to have the social will to improve the situation for all women. It is about equality for all individuals. This evening, in Montreal, 14 beams of light will light up the sky and we will remember. We will never give up the fight. Today, these 14 women are no longer with us, but the pain remains and so does the urgency to combat violence against women.