Mr. Speaker, 11 years ago, on December 6, 1989, 14 young women were killed in Montreal because of their gender and because they studied engineering, a field traditionally dominated by men. Their lives were extinguished by an act of violence that has forever changed our country. The Montreal Massacre was the first time that a mass act of violence, directed so specifically and so deliberately against women was carried through with such devastating results.

Mr. Speaker, today, December 6th, 2000, I ask that you join with me in remembering these women and recognizing Newfoundland and Labrador�s role in the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. This day is marked across Canada as a time to remember and recommit ourselves and our resources to ending violence against women. And today, as a memorial to these 14 women, and to all women who have lost their lives to violence, we have lowered the flags of the Confederation Building to half mast.

Mr. Speaker, in the 11 years that have passed since the Montreal Massacre, much has been said about the nature of violence against women across Canada. There have been numerous initiatives and actions to help stop violence against women both in this province and across this country. In our own province, we have completed the five year Strategy Against Violence and have used the lessons learned during the process to implement a new Violence Prevention Initiative.

The initiative is a five-year, multi-departmental, government-community partnership to find long-term solutions to the problem of violence against women, children, the elderly and other vulnerable groups. Its two main goals are: to improve the coordination and quality of services and programs by government departments and agencies which have violence related mandates, and to enhance the community�s and government�s capacity to coordinate prevention activities and service delivery in the regions.

The Violence Prevention Initiative is an example of government�s continued commitment to ensure safer communities and to address the inequalities that cause women to become targets of violent crime.

Data released by Statistics Canada (1993) denotes that some 51 per cent of Canadian women, that�s half of all the women in Canada, have been victims of at least one act of physical or sexual violence since the age 16. In the same data breakdown, it was revealed that in our own province, some 33 per cent of women have suffered the same fate.

Mr. Speaker, these are frightening numbers and as women and men who are concerned for the future of all women, we must commit to raising awareness and working towards a future where women no longer have to worry about personal safety when they go for a walk, a jog or on a date with someone they should be able to trust. We must ensure that the Montreal Massacre never happens again.

Mr. Speaker, today is a time to reflect on the lives of the 14 women killed in Montreal and on violence against women in our society. It is also a time to remember all the women who live daily with the threat of violence or who have died as a result of deliberate acts of gender-based violence. Last but not least, it is a day for communities to reflect on concrete actions that each person in this province can take to prevent and eliminate all forms of violence against women.

Mr. Speaker, I ask everyone here today to join with me in dedicating this day to the 14 women who died in Montreal and toward ending violence against women in this province and across Canada.

2000 12 06 2:15 p.m.