Annual massacre remembrance

In this context, a series of co-ordinated actions is occurring across the province, including an action in Montreal at 10:30 a.m. on Dec. 6 at the Place du 6-Décembre on Queen Mary and Decelles. Actions will commemorate the victims of the 1989 Montreal massacre at the École polytechnique, in which 14 young women were murdered. FFQ will also mark the anniversary by putting forward a series of political demands to the Liberal government of Jean Charest.

One critical issue that will be addressed by the FFQ in collaboration with the Quebec Native Women's Association on this tragic anniversary is the disproportionately lower funding directed at women's shelters within indigenous communities in Quebec.

"Funding for indigenous women's centres in Quebec is on average $300,000 less than women's centres located outside of indigenous communities," explains Barbara Legault of FFQ. "This funding discrepancy occurs despite the fact that indigenous women are disproportionately experiencing violence within their lives, a clear illustration of institutionalized racism against indigenous people."

The Conservative government's position on gun control will also be addressed. "Soon after the 1989 Montreal massacre, the federal government quickly introduced the federal gun registry, which had a tangible impact on decreasing violence against women," outlines Legault of FFQ. "Now the Harper government is proposing that hunting rifles be removed from the national gun registry, despite the fact that a number of violent incidents directed at women in Canada occurred with hunting rifles."

The anniversary of the massacre provides an opportunity to remind the country of the ongoing reality of gender-based violence. "Violence against women is criminal. While the Quebec government continued to pour millions into campaigns against common criminals, Quebec Liberals have done little to financially contribute to stamping out violence against women forever," continues Legault. "A question that we should all ask is: Are we willing to accept a society in which violence against women continues to prevail?"

Information at www.ffq.qc.ca.

 
 

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Male Victims of Violence     According to some of the latest crime statistics from North America, males are about 10 times more likely than females to kill a fellow human being. Similarly male murder victims are almost 4 times more numerous than female ones. It would take several Polytechnique massacres before male and female homicide rates would become identical. As a warm-blooded concerned male citizen, I feel there is an urgent need for us to have our own national organization to lobby for funding and legislation to protect us from this carnage. Men also hate themselves more. According to recent Canadian figures, at least 3 times more males than females were successful in putting an end to their mortal lives. What is most surprising is the fact that suicides occur almost 6 times more often than homicides in Canada. We need more mental health funding to help these severely depressed males.
Stephen Talko		December 11th, 2007

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