'23 years may have passed but we must always remember their names'

OFFICE OF THE

PRIME MINISTER

OF CANADA

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Ontario New Democrats honour the victims of the Montreal Massacre

Every December 6, New Democrats pause with our fellow Ontarians, and Canadians from coast to coast to coast, to honour the innocent women whose lives were cut short in an act of senseless violence at l'École polytechnique de Montréal.

Twenty-three years may have passed but we must always remember 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, Barbara Klucznik Widajewicz.

No act of violence against women, in any form, is acceptable.

No act of discrimination is insignificant. We must continue to work together to open every door, and to afford equal opportunity to woman of all ages, in our province, in our country, and around the world.
 
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Statement by the Prime Minister of Canada on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Prime Minister Stephen Harper today issued the following statement to mark the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women:

On the evening of December 6, 1989, the country stood in horror as a gunman entered l'École Polytechnique de Montréal and ended the lives of fourteen young, bright, promising women simply because they were women.

Around the world, violence against women and girls is a sad daily reality.

Our Government strongly believes in protecting the most vulnerable in society and continues to take a stand in combatting violence against women, at home and abroad, to help put an end to tragedies such as that of the Montreal Massacre.

In Canada, we are investing in projects aimed at ending violence against women and girls in communities across the country, and we are placing victims' rights ahead of those of criminals by making our laws stronger.

On the international stage, our Government is committed to playing a leadership role in the campaign to prevent sexual violence against women and girls in conflict areas.

Today, on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, let us join the families and friends of those lost in the Montreal Massacre and honour their memory by redoubling efforts to eradicate all violence against women and girls.

 

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