Statement from Minister McLean on the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women

Press Release

December 5, 2024

Minister responsible for the Women and Gender Equity Directorate Jeanie McLean has issued the following statement:

“On December 6, Canadians pay their respects and remember the 14 young women murdered 34 years ago in the mass shooting at the École Polytechnique de Montréal. This horrifying act of violence shook our country. It was a crime of hate and misogyny, planned and executed by one man against others simply because they were women seeking an education.

“This devastating event led Canada to mark today as the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. We honour the victims of this massacre and all victims of gender-based violence. It is a day for all Canadians to reflect on the meaningful actions we can take to end gender-based violence.

“Violence against women, girls, and 2SLGBTQIA+ people continues to be a harmful reality across Canada and in our territory. Last year in Canada, there were more than 123,000 victims of intimate partner violence reported to police. Between 2022 and 2023, women and girls made up 68 per cent of family violence victims and 78 per cent of intimate partner violence victims. In 2023, the rate of police-reported intimate partner violence in the Yukon was almost four times the national rate.

“We also know that two-thirds of women in Canada who identify as a sexual minority (lesbian, bisexual or women who don’t identify as heterosexual) have experienced intimate partner violence in their lifetime, while almost 60 per cent of transgender and gender-diverse Canadians have been the victims of violence.

“These statistics are not just numbers. They reflect the lives of thousands of individual Canadians. Each person the victim of gender-based violence.

“We must collectively and individually work to bring about change. I encourage all Yukoners to mark this day and reflect on the role they can play in ending gender-based violence. This reflection can take many forms: learning about gender-based violence and how you can help prevent it, taking a personal moment of silence, or gathering with others to mark the day. In Whitehorse, there will be a vigil on December 6 at 12 pm at the Kwanlin Dün Cultural Centre. I encourage those in Whitehorse to attend. Yukoners can also join this vigil virtually by visiting the Victoria Faulkner Women’s Centre Facebook page.

“Our government is working to make change, and to act with the urgency that the situation demands. We are committed to ending gender-based violence and supporting survivors. We know that true progress comes from education, prevention, and a society where all individuals are respected, valued, and supported.

“We have clear strategies in place that are guiding us in this work, including the Yukon’s bilateral agreement with the federal government under the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, the Yukon government’s LGBTQ2S+ Inclusion Action Plan and Changing the Story to Upholding Dignity and Justice: Yukon’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit+ People Strategy.

“In our efforts, we are grateful to work with so many partners, including Indigenous women’s organizations, Yukon First Nation governments, the RCMP, non-government organizations, and the Government of Canada.

“For those who are experiencing gender-based violence in the Yukon, there is help available. Visit Yukon.ca and End Violence Yukon to learn more.

“Let this day inspire us to build a future where respect, equality, and safety are the reality for all. By standing united, we can ensure the lives lost are not forgotten and that our actions today create a legacy of hope, justice, and lasting change.”

Media contact

Laura Seeley
Cabinet Communications
867-332-7627
laura.seeley@yukon.ca

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