Mr. Speaker, it is with a heavy heart that I share today the loss of one of my oldest friends, Belinda Cradden. On November 17, her life was taken through an unimaginable act of violence by a person she stepped in to help when our justice system had failed them.
Belinda had an open, generous heart, and her compassion was her strength. Her murder is not only a personal heartbreak for me but also a reflection on the failures of our justice system. When people who pose a clear risk to society are not kept behind bars or provided with the mental health and rehabilitation tools they need, this is the consequence. Belinda's death is a painful reminder that we must do better.
I will always remember her beautiful soul and her light-up-the-room, bold, dynamic personality. I love Belinda. May she rest in peace, and may her memory tell us and inspire us to fight for a safe and more just world.