Ottawa, ON – The Hon. Pierre Poilievre, Leader of the Conservative Party of Canada and the Official Opposition, released the following statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women:
“On December 6, 1989, fourteen young women were murdered at École Polytechnique in Montreal: a cowardly act of violence targeting female students solely because they were women. This tragedy left a profound scar on our national conscience and remains forever etched in Canada’s history, particularly in Québec.
“On this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, we pause, with respect and solemnity, to honour the memory of those victims:
“Geneviève Bergeron. Hélène Colgan. Nathalie Croteau. Barbara Daigneault. Anne-Marie Edward. Maud Haviernick. Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz. Maryse Laganière. Maryse Leclair. Anne-Marie Lemay. Sonia Pelletier. Michèle Richard. Annie St-Arneault. Annie Turcotte.
“This is not just a time to remember their names. It is a time to fight for our country’s promise: that every woman – regardless of background, profession, or circumstance – can live safely, with dignity and free from fear.
“Today we lower our flags in sorrow, and our hearts are heavy with the memory of those we’ve lost.
“Our fight against violence toward women is a moral imperative. It calls for unity, collective responsibility, and vigilance: in our workplaces, homes and communities.
“We must continue to act – with resolve and with respect – in memory of the victims, in solidarity with survivors and for the future of our daughters.”