House of Commons photoWon her last election, in 2021, with 50% of the vote.
Women and Gender Equality May 21st, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I thank the hon. member for her advocacy and her tireless work.
I am proud to stand in this House to tell Canadians our government will always defend and support a woman's right to choose. Conservatives claim this is settled, yet anti-choice bills and petitions keep cropping up.
It is settled for us. No ifs, buts or maybes. We will never stop defending the rights that women in this country have fought so hard for.
Women and Gender Equality May 7th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, our position is unwavering. We will always vigorously support a woman's right to choose and her right to have autonomy over her own body. Conservatives say they will use any tools necessary when it comes to a matter of criminal justice. It was not long ago that abortion itself was a crime. We will not go back, even though, just this morning, a Conservative MP reminded us of the future the Conservatives want for women in this country. On this side of the House, a woman's right to choose will never be up for debate.
Carbon Pricing April 11th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, let us talk about caring, young people and affordability, if we may.
Young people said they needed a break on interest and student loans. We did that. Kids getting out of school can save towards their first home with the home savings account, which 500,000 young people now have. Now rent payments will build credit history, because when people pay rent, it should count.
Young people have asked, and we have answered. What do you have to say? What are you going to cut? Are you going to cut these measures?
Women and Gender Equality February 13th, 2024
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for her advocacy and hard work, and for the chance to give an update on this. Menstrual products are a basic need, but not everyone has access to them. Since launching the menstrual equity fund pilot last September, almost 400 locations, including 14 in that member's province of Nova Scotia, have helped pull more than a million Canadians out of period poverty. That is 35 million products out the door in six months.
We are providing real solutions to real challenges: menstrual products for those who need them, when they need them, period.
Diversity and Inclusion December 7th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for his work on the white paper and for all he does for the community.
Yes, we will always support trans communities; we will always support queer communities across this country. This is why we have a $100-million plan, a 2SLGBTQI action plan, that puts money in the hands of those on the front lines who are helping those communities. On this side of the House, we will always be on the side of those communities.
École polytechnique de Montréal December 6th, 2023
Madam Speaker, 34 years ago, a horrific act of gender-based violence shocked and devastated our country. On December 6, 1989, a man walked into a classroom at École polytechnique de Montréal, separated the women from the men and opened fire on the women.
Fourteen young women lost their lives that day, and 13 others were injured.
This is the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.
We remember the lives lost by saying their names: Geneviève Bergeron, Hélène Colgan, Nathalie Croteau, Barbara Daigneault, Anne-Marie Edward, Maud Haviernick, Maryse Laganière, Maryse Leclair, Anne-Marie Lemay, Sonia Pelletier, Michèle Richard, Annie St-Arneault, Annie Turcotte and Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz.
These 14 brilliant lives were tragically cut short. They were students, daughters, sisters and friends. One was an athlete, another a musician. One spoke five languages. Another wanted to be an engineer just like her dad.
Who could they have become? How might they have changed the world? We will never know. This tragedy was a wake-up call when it happened and remains a reminder of the violent consequences of unchecked misogyny.
Today and throughout the 16 days of activism against gender-based violence, we acknowledge that the sexism and hatred that motivated the tragedy at Polytechnique Montréal remains a very real threat for women in Canada, with more than 6.2 million women in Canada age 15 and older having experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime.
In 2021, 173 women and girls were killed violently in Canada. That is one woman every two days.
This violence has a direct impact on our health, social and justice systems.
It costs the Canadian economy billions of dollars every year.
While anyone can be impacted by this violence, we know that people with intersectional identities suffer the most. This includes indigenous peoples, Black and racialized women, immigrant and refugee women, 2SLGBTQI+ people, women living in northern, rural and remote communities and people with disabilities.
We know that this issue is deeply rooted in our society and requires a coordinated response, which is why I worked with governments from every province and every territory to launch the national action plan to end gender-based violence last year. Since the launch of the plan, we have been able to sign 10 agreements, alongside provinces and territories, to get this funding to people working on the front lines, to help women and children fleeing violence and to prevent violence from happening in the first place.
We have been able to get these agreements signed quickly because we are all unified and focused on eliminating gender-based violence from our communities, our schools, our workplaces and our country.
We must prevent tragedies like the one at Montreal's École Polytechnique by listening to survivors and experts.
We need to learn more about gender-based violence and take action to end it. That action must include men and boys as part of the solution and making sure that we break intergenerational cycles of violence. Gender-based violence is not a women's issue. It is a societal issue that we must all stand against.
I look forward to seeing members at the Centennial Flame for a moment of silence later today.
Gender-Based Violence December 6th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, today, we remember the victims of the massacre at École Polytechnique. The brazen disregard of the safety of women and the clear intent to harm them cast a shadow on our hearts to this day.
Even now, gender-based violence remains a real threat to women. Because of this, our commitment to end it has not changed. That is why we have signed 10 agreements, alongside provinces and territories, through the national action plan to end gender-based violence. This work will not stop until it ends.
Gender-Based Violence November 27th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, the fight to end gender-based violence will not end unless men and boys are involved. Since we launched the national action plan to end gender-based violence, we have funded organizations such as White Ribbon that work every day to make sure men and boys are involved in this fight.
Gender-based violence must not and will not be tolerated. All of us can make that a reality.
Gender-Based Violence November 27th, 2023
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Brampton South for her unwavering advocacy in supporting women and girls.
Gender-based violence has no place in Canada or anywhere else. It is why the national plan to end it is crucial, a plan in every province and every territory.
Recently, the member for Brampton South and I announced $162 million to support Ontario through the national action plan. This creates a safe pathway for those who need it most. We now have nine provinces and territories with agreements. I look forward to others in the coming weeks.
Government Business No. 30—Proceedings on Bill C‑56 November 22nd, 2023
Mr. Speaker, I give notice that, with respect to the consideration of Government Business No. 30, at the next sitting of the House, a minister of the Crown shall move, pursuant to Standing Order 57, that debate not be further adjourned.