Kellie Leitch

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the government is taking significant action to make sure that women and girls are safe. Whether that be our movement forward on cyberbullying and cyberharassment, the victims bill of rights, the focus we have had on punishing criminals, making sure that those who have committed serious crimes no longer have the ability to have a pardon, or better protecting youth and young women, these are things we are focused on.

We are taking action to make sure that those victims of crime are supported and that the individuals who commit these crimes feel the full extent of the law.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, any allegations of violence, of harassment, whether it be in a workplace, at home, or otherwise, must be taken extremely seriously. Our government has taken significant action, as I have outlined in this House today, to better protect Canadians, particularly women and girls.

I encourage anyone who has been the victim of any sexual harassment or violence to please step forward and report it to the authorities so that they can take action.

On this side of the House, we are taking action through a number of initiatives. I would encourage the opposition to join us in doing that.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I have mentioned in the House already today, the government takes extremely seriously violence against women and girls and condemns these acts.

Whether it be my work with Plan Canada on International Day of the Girl or recent announcements with the YWCA of Canada or whether it was just this last Friday when I did an announcement with the White Ribbon campaign and the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, this government is focused on local, community actions to make sure we are improving the areas where we know it is required.

Whether that be supporting victims or making sure we put criminals behind bars, we are focused on actions, as opposed to just the rhetoric and talk across the aisle.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I have already mentioned, this week is a time to remember that crime that took place at the Polytechnique 25 years ago, in fact a Canadian tragedy.

We will continue to support those victims as well as punish criminals.

As I have mentioned already in this House today, there are a number of initiatives that this government has already taken, whether they be the victims bill of rights act or making sure we have safe streets and communities. These are initiatives we have moved forward on, and we will continue to do so.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our government has been committed to preventing violent crimes and violence against women and girls.

Let me list some of the things we have done, and I would encourage the members opposite to participate in supporting these initiatives: the victims' bills of rights act; the creation of a DNA-based missing persons index; passing new laws to protect victims who have been harassed by those who have committed crimes against them; eliminating pardons for serious crimes; and better protecting youth from adult sexual predators.

These are a few of many initiatives this government has taken. I am very proud of that record of supporting victims and putting criminals behind bars.

[Status of Women, December 5th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, the massacre at l'École Polytechnique de Montréal was a Canadian tragedy. This week we remember the crimes that took place 25 years ago. While I would never think we could make sense of why those crimes took place that day, we must continue to ensure this never happens again in Canada. Our government will continue to stay focused on supporting the victims of these crimes, as well as punishing the criminals who commit these heinous crimes.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let me start by talking about the things this government has done and that the opposition has not supported.

There is the victims bill of rights, a DNA-based missing persons index and new laws to protect victims from being harassed by those who have committed the crimes against them. We have eliminated pardons for serious crimes. We have provided better protection for, particularly, young women who have been victims of sexual predators.

I ask the opposition members this. We are acting. Why are they not supporting us? Why are they voting against all of these initiatives?

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, as I have said in the House many times, having gone out and met with families and spoken to them, what they want is action.

Whether it be Bernadette Smith, who lost her sister and who has been unable to find her sister since 2007, or numerous other families, they want action now. They do not want an inquiry and a lot of people talking. They want action, and our government has moved forward on that on September 15 of this year.

[Aboriginal Affairs, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, our government has been acting with respect to this. In fact, on September 15, we moved forward with an action plan.

I guess what I find the most unfortunate is that the opposition wants to focus on being bogged down with a bunch of individuals who are lawyers to ensure we can just talk about this issue. Let us be very serious; this is about the families. This is about ensuring that those who are victims of crime, those poor aboriginal women and their families, see justice brought to them, that the criminals are held accountable and the victims are supported, unlike what the opposition wants to do.

[Status of Women, December 4th, 2014]

Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. On this side of the House, we actually have taken action, whether it be the Safe Streets and Communities Act; whether it be our new bill, looking at zero tolerance for barbaric practices; or whether it be what we have done to ensure that victims are supported with a victims' bill of rights.

We on this side of the House, actually listen to women. We have listened to them across the country and we have acted, unlike the opposition that continues to have a lot of rhetoric, but do nothing to actually support those victims of crime.