December 6 National Day of Remembrance

Thursday, December 6, was the Day of Remembrance, a time to remember the Montreal Massacre of 14 young women 18 years ago. In a statement issued by the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) in connection with the 2007 Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, it says that the federal government has it all wrong when it comes to women's equality. It called on the government to reverse budget cuts and law-and-order measures in favour of a more integrated approach.

"Until all women in Canada have true economic and social equality,"says Barbara Byers, Executive Vice-President of the Canadian Labour Congress, "ending the violence we experience is not possible. Fighting violence, we have learned, requires an integrated approach.

"A law-and-order agenda, by itself, will not end violence against women. Punishing those who act out the violence does not address the source of that violence. It certainly would not have made a difference for the 14 women we pause to remember every December 6. We would mourn them still."