Prime Minister Carney Marks National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Carney’s National Day of Remembrance statement reinforces Canada’s commitment to ending violence against women.

OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney issued a solemn statement today marking the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, honouring the 14 women murdered at Polytechnique Montréal in 1989 and reaffirming Canada’s responsibility to confront gender-based violence with urgency and accountability.

The Prime Minister described the tragedy as “an attack on women and the values of equality, dignity, and respect that define who we are as Canadians,” emphasizing that remembrance must be matched with concrete action to protect women and girls across the country.

Canadians will never forget the horror of December 6th, 1989. We will never forget the fourteen women murdered that day. We will not stop building a country where every woman and girl can live free and safe from misogyny and gender-based violence. pic.twitter.com/acRGSvDhtk

— Mark Carney (@MarkJCarney) December 7, 2025

Carney outlines federal actions to strengthen protections and support survivors

In his statement, Prime Minister Carney detailed several federal measures aimed at reducing gender-based violence and strengthening Canada’s justice and prevention systems, including:

• Reinforcing firearms restrictions for individuals violent toward intimate partners or family members.

• Restricting conditional sentences for those convicted of sexual assault, ensuring offenders serve time in custody rather than in the community.

• Increasing awareness of red-flag laws, which allow authorities or family members to seek emergency removal of firearms from individuals who pose a risk.

• Providing $660.5 million in stable funding over five years to support prevention, improve safety for women and girls, and advance gender equality.

• Advancing the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence in partnership with provinces and territories, tailoring supports to regional needs.

• Continuing to respond to the Calls for Justice from the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Carney stressed that these steps represent ongoing and necessary work: “There remains much more to do, and our government will remain relentlessly focused on preventing gender-based violence and supporting the victims of these crimes.”

Honouring the victims and reaffirming national responsibility

The Prime Minister called on Canadians to reflect on the lives lost and the enduring impact of violence on survivors, families, and communities. He urged the country to confront gender-based violence wherever it persists and to build a safer future grounded in equality and justice.

“We honour the victims of Polytechnique Montréal and all those whose lives have been changed forever by gender-based violence,” Carney said. “We reaffirm our responsibility – as a government and as a country – to build a safer, stronger Canada for everyone.”

As communities across Canada hold vigils and memorial events, the National Day of Remembrance continues to serve as both a moment of mourning and a call to action — a reminder that ending gender-based violence requires sustained national effort, coordinated policy, and a commitment to protecting the rights and safety of women and girls.

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