Kellie Leitch

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 10th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. Any of these allegations are actually false. I want to be very clear. We have taken a number of actions, including recently, just last week, working with Inuit women throughout northern Canada with the white ribbon campaign. This is substantive action for local communities.

On this side of the House, we are taking action. We are involved in local community actions. We are involved in making sure that the right legislation is in place. I find it passing strange that the opposition brings up these issues again and again but does not support the initiatives to make sure we are supporting these women who are victims of crime.

[Firearms Registry, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, we remember that these crimes that took place at the Polytechnique 25 years ago were atrocious crimes. These women were put in harm's way. These women were murdered simply because they were women. We will continue to support victims of these crimes and punish the criminals that perpetuate them.

Our government has been standing up for victims, so whether it is the creation of a DNA missing persons index or the victims bill of rights, we here are focused on making sure that victims of crime are supported and that we put criminals behind bars—unlike the opposition, which continues to vote against all of these issues.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said several times in this House, our government has moved forward with actions that families have specifically asked for. Let me quote one of those families.

This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for. I would like to thank...the Government for their commitment to addressing this issue.... We've had numerous studies on this issue and the time for action is now. We can't stand idly by and talk about this without taking significant action. This Action Plan will have a direct impact on families and it will help keep our women and girls safe.

Now Bernadette Smith and her family are very focused on action, as are many across the country. Our government is taking that action.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 9th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, what happened to Rinelle Harper was an appalling and horrific crime. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with this brave young woman, and her family, who shows tremendous courage today and, I am sure, will in the future. Thanks to this family's brave actions, working with police in the local Winnipeg area, they were able to apprehend her attackers. The police deserve significant recognition for what they did.

Now Canadians can count on this government to make sure that we take violent crime, including against women and girls, very seriously.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as has been mentioned in the House before, there have been over 40 studies completed.

I will give members a quote. This is a quote from Bernadette Smith, one of those individuals who has a sister who is missing. She said:

This Action Plan is something that our families have been waiting for. I would like to thank...the Government for their commitment to addressing this issue.... We've had numerous studies on this issue and the time for action is now. We can't stand idly by and talk about this without taking...action. This Action Plan will have a direct impact on families and it will help keep our women and girls safe.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I guess I would beg to differ with the member of the opposition.

Whether it be the Native Women's Association of Canada, whether it be individual aboriginal Canadian women who have come to speak with me personally, or whether it be the friendship centres across the country, they have endorsed our action plan and have asked others to join us in making sure that we are protecting and supporting aboriginal women.

I would encourage the opposition to please pick up a copy of the plan and read it. It was tabled in the House on September 15. I can tell members that aboriginal women and their families have continued to support this, because we are moving forward to support these Canadians.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, I guess my question would be, why will the opposition not support the action plan we have put in place that would take action today for aboriginal women, as opposed to waiting for several years?

Our focus is making sure that the women who are experiencing these violent crimes receive support, help, and protection today. I would encourage the opposition to join us in doing exactly that. These women deserve all the support of everyone here in this House of Commons.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, there are a number of initiatives we have already taken that the opposition has not supported. Whether that be matrimonial property rights, actually the opportunity for a women to stay in her own home, with her children, because she has the right to be there and be protected in that circumstance, or whether it be the family violence program we supported to make sure they receive the support they need when they are in shelters, which has just been augmented by our new initiative, tabled here in the House of Commons on September 15, to support aboriginal women, we are moving forward to make sure they are well supported, unlike the opposition.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said many times today, there are a number of initiatives this government is taking to make sure women are protected and supported. Whether that be matrimonial property rights on reserve or whether that be the victims bill of rights, we are very focused on making sure the victims of these crimes, as well as women experiencing domestic violence, are supported and are able to transition into new opportunities, as opposed to the opposition, whose focus, actually, has been to vote against some of these actions that I think will truly benefit these women in need.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned before in this House, violence against women and girls is something the government takes extremely seriously. Whether that be support for shelters on reserve or off, or whether that be support for programming to make sure victims of crime are supported, we are focused on making sure we are taking action today to make sure these victims of crime are supported.