Conservatives vote against ending violence against women

Tonight, Conservatives voted down M-444, A National Action Plan to End Violence against Women. The bill’s sponsor, NDP Critic for Aboriginal Affairs Niki Ashton (Churchill) made the following statement:

“Today the Harper Government once again turned its back on Canadian women by voting against M-444, a National Action Plan to End Violence Against Women. After decades of Conservative and Liberal neglect, women are facing crisis levels of violence in Canada.

“A National Action Plan to Address Violence Against Women has been enacted with great success in countries like Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

“This Motion is the first meaningful anti-violence against women legislation that has come to Canada in decades, and yet the Conservatives have voted against it, sending the clear message that ending violence in women’s lives is not a priority for them.

“The NDP knows that when women are secure and thriving, so are their families, their communities and by extension all of Canada. The NDP has a plan that includes taking action to promote and enshrine gender equality in communities, work places and in politics.

“A national action plan is a major part of that plan. We know that without freedom from violence women cannot be equal and without equality women will never be free from violence. We will keep up the pressure on the need for a National Action Plan, now and into the future.”