Statement from Bryan Hayes on International Women's Day

NEWS RELEASE

BRYAN HAYES, MP

*****************************
Bryan Hayes, MP calls on Canadians to celebrate International Women’s Day; Harper Government taking action to end violence against women

SAULT STE. MARIE - On behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, minister of public works and government services and minister for status of women, Bryan Hayes, member of Parliament for Sault Ste. Marie, today called on constituents to celebrate International Women’s Week and International Women’s Day.

Canada’s 2013 theme is Working Together: Engaging Men to End Violence Against Women.

This year’s International Women’s Week theme is asking men to become part of the solution and speak out to end violence against women and girls.

“The Harper Government is committed to eliminating violence against women and girls,” Minister Ambrose stated. “Our government has been working with communities to improve safety and security of women - funding hundreds of projects across Canada to end violence against women and girls.”

“I encourage everyone in Sault Ste. Marie and area to celebrate the women in our community this International Women’s Week and to work together to prevent violence against women and girls in all its forms, wherever it occurs.” said MP Hayes.

Last spring, MP Hayes put motion M-353 on notice in the House of Commons: That the Standing Committee on the Status of Women be instructed to undertake a comprehensive study on the subject of education and social programs in Canada that prevent domestic violence and upon completion of that study, report back to the House within one year of the study’s initiation. 

He cited the need to identify what educational and social programs exist across Canada and which ones are effective.

“It is imperative to ensure these programs are in place,” said Hayes. “Implementing programs for impressionable school-aged children will help to prevent incidents from occurring rather than only providing rehabilitative programs for individuals who are already incarcerated. This study will also help answer many questions and ultimately bring forward recommendations that will lead to a decreased number of incidents of domestic violence.”

The Conservative Government is committed to supporting projects that yield concrete results for women and girls in Canada, while strengthening families and communities.

Through Status of Women Canada, the government's support for community-based projects has nearly doubled since 2006-2007, from $10.8 million to close to $19 million, its highest level ever.

Since 2007, more than $57 million in funding has been approved for projects that seek to address violence against women and girls.

International Women’s Week takes place this year from March 3 to 9, with International Women’s Day on March 8.

For further information on International Women's Day and International Women's Week, please visit the Status of Women Canada website.

*****************************

Tweet