REVP Letter: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence against Women

Dear Sisters & Brothers, 

On December 6, 1989, 14 women were murdered at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal. They died because they were women. More than 20 years later, we still remember and honour them.

Women are victims of violence in their homes, at school, on the job, and in the streets. But here in Canada, women are also victimized by their own government’s apathy and attack on women’s issues. 

Over the past few years, the Conservative government has defunded countless women’s advocacy groups. This includes closing nearly all Status of Women Canada offices, changing their mandate to exclude “gender equality and political justice” and banning them from undertaking any lobbying, advocacy, or policy research.

Women cannot be free from violence until they achieve equality, and equality cannot be achieved until violence and the threat of violence are eliminated from women’s lives.

Stand together with us on National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women to honour the victims of l’École Polytechnique and demand that our government take action to eliminate violence against women in our society.

In Solidarity,

Robyn Benson
Regional Executive Vice-President
Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairies