Statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

December 6, 2022

TORONTO — Ontario Greens leader and Guelph MPP, Mike Schreiner, released the following statement on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women.

“On this day, 33 years ago, 14 young women were murdered at École Polytechnique in an act fueled by violent misogyny and anti-feminist hate.

Gender-based violence has become more prevalent since the start of the pandemic. Today, millions of women in Canada report having experienced some form of intimate partner violence in their lifetime. 

In Ontario alone, 43 cases of femicide have been reported in the past year. Too many women live under the shadow of domestic violence, which disproportionately effects Indigenous women, women of colour and trans and non-binary people.

To honour the memory of the École Polytechnique victims, we reaffirm our commitment to ending this scourge and to stand strong against the attitudes that lead to violence against women.

As an elected representative and a privileged white male, I will advocate for and follow the lead of the women and women’s groups who are working to eradicate gender-based violence.

On this National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, I call on the Ford government to: 

• reinstate Ontario’s Expert Panel on Violence Against Women,
• adequately fund social supports for women who suffer violence,
• invest in transitional housing to support women fleeing domestic violence, and
• address the systemic causes of inequality and gender based violence by empowering women.

We must do better to make Ontario and Canada a safe place for all genders.”

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Media contact:
John Chenery
johnchenery@gpo.ca
437-929-1792

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