2022 National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women

“Today,
on the National
Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women, we remember the 14
young women who were murdered and 13 others injured at the École Polytechnique
de Montréal on December 6, 1989. Their lives were so tragically cut short
simply because they were women.

“For
33 years, we have held them in our thoughts. Geneviève Bergeron. Maryse
Laganière. Hélène Colgan. Maryse Leclair. Nathalie Croteau. Anne-Marie Lemay.
Barbara Daigneault. Sonia Pelletier. Anne-Marie Edward. Michèle Richard. Maud
Haviernick. Annie St-Arneault. Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz. Annie Turcotte. We
will never forget them.

“On
this day, and throughout the 16
Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, we acknowledge that the
hatred that motivated this tragic mass shooting is still a very real threat for
women in Canada and around the world. This is particularly true for
marginalized and racialized women.

“Across
the country this past week, we have been mourning the tragic killing of four
Indigenous women in Manitoba: Rebecca Contois, Morgan Harris, Marcedes Myran,
and a fourth woman who remains unidentified at this time. We will remember them
as mothers, daughters, sisters, and caring community members. There is more
work to do to stop this senseless violence and put an end to the ongoing
tragedy of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people.
We will continue to work in partnership with Indigenous families, Survivors,
leaders, and partners, as well as with provinces and territories, to implement
the MMIWG National Action Plan and the Federal
Pathway to make our communities safer.

“The
Government of Canada is working to end gender-based violence so that all women,
girls, and gender-diverse people can feel safe. Our Gender-Based
Violence Strategy is advancing efforts to help prevent and address
gender-based violence, support Survivors and their families, and promote
justice. We are also supporting provinces and territories in implementing the National
Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, launched last month, which sets a
framework for anyone facing gender-based violence to have reliable and timely
access to protection and services, no matter where they live. In addition, the
government provided funding for women’s shelters across the country, crisis
hotlines, and organizations helping women flee violence.

“We
are also helping to protect women and girls by keeping guns out of our
communities. Earlier this fall, the government implemented a national freeze on
the sale, purchase, and transfer of handguns, which will make communities safer
and help save lives. And Bill
C-21 proposes Canada’s most significant action on gun violence in a
generation.

“I
encourage all Canadians to honour the victims and Survivors of the tragedy at
the École Polytechnique de Montréal. Today, we wear a white ribbon, observe a
moment of silence at 11:00 a.m., and support Survivors and those affected by
gender-based violence. We will continue to do everything we can to build a
safer, more inclusive future for everyone.”