The following statement was issued by Sandra Kelly, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women. It was also read in the House of Assembly:

Today the flags are flown at half mast as it is the 12th anniversary of our remembrance of the 14 women killed at L'�cole Polytechnique in Montreal on December 6, 1989.

This terrible tragedy serves as a focal point to raise awareness of violence against women in this country. 

The oppression of a group because of gender, race, sexual orientation, age, or class is often at the root of violence in our society and the world over. Recent world events, for example, made us very aware of the oppression of women in Afghanistan.

It seems appropriate, as we move forward to address issues of violence related to gender and race in this province and country, that we also take steps to ensure that the power imbalance that leads to discrimination against women in our global community is addressed.

Women in Afghanistan need to have a say in the restructuring of their society and I urge my colleagues in the House, community leaders, and citizens of this province to join the women's community in advocating for the inclusion of women in that process.

2001 12 06                            1:50 p.m.