Mr. Speaker, today is December 6, 2024, and 35 years have passed. This evening, 15 beams of light will illuminate the skies of Montreal a little. We have not forgotten.

We have not forgotten them, sisters who were taken from us. We have not forgotten Geneviève Bergeron, 21, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Maryse Laganière, 25, financial services employee. We have not forgotten Hélène Colgan, 23, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Maryse Leclair, 23, metallurgical engineering student. We have not forgotten Nathalie Croteau, 23, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Anne-Marie Lemay, 22, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Barbara Daigneault, 22, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Sonia Pelletier, 28, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Anne-Marie Edward, 21, chemical engineering student. We have not forgotten Michèle Richard, 21, metallurgical engineering student. We have not forgotten Maud Haviernick, 29, metallurgical engineering student. We have not forgotten Annie St-Arneault, 23, mechanical engineering student. We have not forgotten Barbara Klucznik-Widajewicz, 31, nursing student. We have not forgotten Annie Turcotte, 20, metallurgical engineering student.

We have not forgotten them, and there is hope in their memory. Tonight, women and men will gather for a candlelight vigil in their honour. Tonight, there will be tenderness, love, and determination. Tonight, there will be human warmth and a willingness for things to move forward. They, my sisters, will be with us, as they have been for 35 years. Though taken from us, these women are a driving force. They push us to move forward.

I am talking about hope because progress is possible. École Polytechnique has more women students than ever before. The school far exceeds the Canadian and Quebec average for female enrolment in engineering. In 2023, 34.6% of students enrolled at the Ph.D. level were women. École Polytechnique exceeds 30% female enrolment year after year.

In the late 1980s, barely 15% of students were women, but that was already seen as too many because of misogyny, fear, hatred and guns. However, misogyny did not win. Fear did not win. Hatred did not win. Guns did not win. For decades, the victims of this attack have served as role models for thousands of women who carry their aspirations in their backpacks and who go on to use their degrees to help make Quebec society more vibrant and modern than ever.

My sisters must believe me. I know that the road is long, but we are also making progress on tightening gun control. We are working tirelessly and steadfastly to ensure that the weapons used against them can never be used again, either against women or against men. We still have work to do, but we are making progress with these women in mind. We must not go backwards. As we saw with the gun registry, the danger is very real. We must remain vigilant for them, for women, for our mothers, our sisters and our daughters, for the women yet to be born.

We will never forget my sisters who were taken from us on December 6, 1989. We will continue to fight against violence and for the emancipation of women. We will continue the fight with them at our side.

Andréanne Larouche

$509,489.00