Sixth anniversary of the massacre at the École polytechnique de Montréal

The following is the text of a statement by the Right Honourable Jean Chrétien on the sixth anniversary of the massacre at the École polytechnique de Montréal.

"December 6, 1989 will always remain imprinted on our memories. For six years, this date has reminded Canadian women and men of fourteen women mown down in the flower of their youth, the victims of a senseless act.

On behalf of all victims of violence, the federal government is working with a large number of groups to eliminate the social problem of violence against women, and to change the attitudes and behaviour responsible for this violence.

The passage of Bill C-68 regulating the use of firearms marks the culmination of one aspect of this battle, and meets the expectations expressed by a vast majority of Canadian men and women and by more than 400 organizations, including the major national police and legal associations, as well as the Coalition for Gun Control established immediately after the École polytechnique massacre.

The determination of the parents and friends of the École polytechnique victims strengthened the government's will to work to ensure the safety of Canadian women and men in public and private places; the implementation of Bill C-68 is society's tribute to them."

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