Tuesday, December 6, 1994
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VOLUME 133 NUMBER 138 1st SESSION 35th PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Tuesday, December 6, 1994 Speaker: The Honourable Gilbert Parent HOUSE OF COMMONS Tuesday, December 6, 1994 The House met at 10 a.m. need for action to eliminate the threat of violence in society, including the threat of violence to women’’. _______________ The Speaker: I understand that this will be the first order of Prayers the day when we get through the routine business, and it is taken as such. _______________ [English] * * * POINTS OF ORDER [Translation] VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN Hon. Alfonso Gagliano (Secretary of State (Parliamentary Hon. Sheila Finestone (Secretary of State (Multicultural- Affairs) and Deputy Leader of the Government in the House ism) (Status of Women), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, today, December of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I 6, is the day that all parties in the House have unanimously believe you would find unanimous consent, when the House gets proclaimed national day of remembrance and action on violence to Government Orders today, for the Secretary of State for against women. Multiculturalism and the Status of Women to put the following [English] motion: That this House take note of the anniversary of the murder of 14 young women These young women were smart, ambitious and hardworking. at l’École polytechnique on December 6, 1989 and the continuing urgent need for They had much to contribute to their families and to their action to eliminate the threat of violence in society, including the threat of violence to women. country. All this was stolen from them in a burst of gunfire. The Speaker: Is there unanimous consent? Today, 14 red roses have been placed at the entrance of the Chamber. Each rose represents the life of a young woman, a life Some hon. members: Agreed. full of promise, a life full of dreams, a life cut short by a * * * horrifying act of violence by a man who voiced the old hidden belief that women do not have the right to equal status in a man’s GOVERNMENT RESPONSE TO PETITIONS world. Mr. Peter Milliken (Parliamentary Secretary to Leader of The tragedy was a catalyst for action and the rose has become the Government in the House of Commons, Lib.): Mr. Speak- a symbol in memory of the women who died. It appears on the er, pursuant to Standing Order 36(8), I have the honour to table, YWCA buttons sold each year as part of its campaign to address in both official languages, the government’s response to 23 violence against women. It appears on the Canadian Labour petitions. Congress lapel pin as part of its new campaign. * * * [Translation] COMMUNITY STORIES Every year, since 1989, increasing numbers of individuals and organizations have joined forces with women’s groups and other Hon. Sheila Finestone (Secretary of State (Multicultural- community organizations in order to bring about social change. ism) (Status of Women), Lib.): Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to The Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Canadian Union table in the House, in both official languages, a document of Public Employees, the Quebec women’s federation—many entitled ‘‘Community Stories: Taking Action on Violence people are trying to make a difference in their community. Against Women’’. The document contains the personal stories and history of the women applying for safety in their communi- [English] ties. Our government is also a partner for change. Last week the Today I will be moving: ‘‘That this House take note of the Minister of Justice announced the government’s intention to ban anniversary of the murder of 14 young women at l’École the type of gun that was used in Montreal. Firearms control is a polytechnique on December 6, 1989 and the continuing urgent life and death issue for women. In the new proposals anyone 8659 COMMONS DEBATES December 6, 1994 Points of Order charged with criminal harassment such as stalking will tempo- Violence against women must stop. The word was out before rarily be prohibited from owning a firearm. this tragic incident, but the atrocity of these murders created a new awareness of a reality experienced by a great number of [Translation] women. A national firearms registry would have enormous advan- From then on, all forms of violence against women were to be tages. When responding to a domestic violence call, police seen under a much harsher light. For instance, a harder and more would know if there was a registered firearm at the address in serious look was taken at one of the most revolting aspects of question. our society. Conjugal violence must stop and we must take all the necessary steps to stop it. Spousal violence is widespread in (1010) Quebec and Canada. The figures are alarming. Let me just quote a few here. This fall, Statistics Canada reported that 29 per cent Last year, Statistics Canada reported that, based on the of women who had been married or in a common law relation- definition of violence in the Criminal Code, half of Canadian ship were physically or sexually assaulted by their spouse at one women have been victims of violence in their adult life, often time or another in their life together. more than once. Men they know pose more of a danger to them than strangers. It is reported that 21 per cent of spousal assaults occur when [English] women are pregnant. Physical abuse may or may not be accom- panied by psychological abuse. The blows, injuries, death The foundation of the federal government’s multifaceted threats, and humiliations leave permanent psychological scars approach to violence against women in Canadian society is in women, as well as in the children who often witness and are legislation, giving protection under the law. We have made this a themselves victims of the abuse. priority. It is part of the solution, clearly our part. We are also Since the second half of the 1970s, homes for battered women working in new ways to facilitate community action. have mushroomed. The care and services they provide unques- I am pleased to have tabled today the publication entitled tionably meet a fundamental need in our communities. Howev- ‘‘Community Stories: Taking Action on Violence Against er, the issue of funding is much thornier and the financial Women’’. It chronicles the experience of 10 communities that support they receive from the federal government is far from took part in a demonstration project of a community kit on adequate. Funding programs for housing that used to help these violence against women. Both community stories and the com- shelters open up new places for battered women now have no munity kit are tremendous resources for grassroots action in our budget. This government decided instead to offer public funds to own neighbourhoods. They are a source of inspiration on what is private owners. possible. (1015) There are many other excellent resources available today for increased safety and security for all women in the workplace, in Last February’s budget did not provide any financing for a municipalities and in relationships. Violence against women is campaign to address violence against women, despite the formal simply unacceptable. We must work together to change attitudes promise contained in the red book. Nevertheless, all provincial and behaviour that give rise to these acts, to these terrible governments as well as the federal government must do even tragedies. more to promote awareness and spread information in order to eliminate violence against women. Gender violence does not just threaten women; it threatens their families, their loved ones and all of us. It tears at the very Another statistic involving women has to do with firearms. fabric of our society. We need to act not just for ourselves but for Firearms are the weapon of choice used in spousal homicides. our daughters and our granddaughters. It is for their right to Between 1974 and 1992, 42 per cent of women killed by their walk safely and earn fairly anywhere in our Canada. spouses were shot dead. [Translation] In this context, Bloc members, like most Quebecers and Canadians, eagerly awaited the bill on how the federal govern- Mrs. Christiane Gagnon (Québec, BQ): Mr. Speaker, it is ment would effectively control firearms. Unfortunately, the with a great deal of emotion that we are reminded today of a cold Minister of Justice was rather timid in announcing a policy and snowy day, five years ago, when 14 female students of statement on gun control. Surprisingly enough, despite the l’École polytechnique de Montréal were shot and killed by a urgent need for gun control, this bill will be implemented over young man who had a visceral hatred of women, and feminists in the next seven years until 2002. particular. These women, like many others, had families, friends, hopes. Such senseless acts have sounded a call, a We also fail to understand why all 4,000 AK–47 and 6,000 heart–rending call, in Quebec and Canada, and even had an echo FN–FAL owners will be allowed to keep these weapons for the in the United States. rest of their lives. All 555,000 Canadians who own .25 or .32 8660 December 6, 1994 COMMONS DEBATES Points of Order caliber handguns or 105–mm guns will also be able to keep them Most Canadian men abhor violence. They do not condone it, nor until they die. do they want to be put on a guilt trip for one maniac who went crazy and committed such a deplorable act. Heidi Rathjen is to be commended for her determination and her work in the Coalition for Gun Control, which helped These issues affect all members of our society.