Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A number of years ago, the people of Canada watched in horror as a story unfolded about a special armed forces Canadian soldier who tied up a 16-year old child in Somalia and systematically beat the child until the child died. Mr. Speaker, perhaps we do not understand the motives and the reasons why men are driven to do these things. In a moment of humour, a character on the TV program "This Hour has 22 Minutes" Babes Bennett, was commenting on that and she said her view of it was that "Why do we feel that it does something?" She said anybody can pistol whip an unarmed civilian into submission. Why is it that women do not do that? She said "We just do not feel like it, that is all".
I thought there was humour in it, but it also drives at the point. Why do men continue to beat women, children and elders? Why do men continue to bully women, children, elders? It is not only at home that this violence takes place. Violence in many forms takes place on the streets and at the work place. Is it because men want to control and silence and feel power over those they physically are stronger than? Is it to vent pent-up rage? I do not know that.
I just know that even today not everybody agrees that this is wrong. There are still people in this world who believe there are occasions when children should be beaten. They actually believe there are occasions when women should be beaten, that it is justifiable to beat people.
In this Legislature, I believe we have an opportunity because we are on TV. We are reported on every day to show people how we should relate to each other. We show a degree of tolerance and respect and appreciation for one another that perhaps is not shown enough out there in the streets and the communities, in the homes, in the constituencies for the people whom we represent. I believe that.
Mr. Speaker, my mother was widowed since '75. Just two years ago at the age of 78, she was beaten by a man in Fort Good Hope. One of my sisters was medivaced to Edmonton a year ago, again beaten by a man. She will never regain her full health. That is how close this is. So of course I support the motion.
There are people who would say we should throw more money at it. I do not disagree with that. I also know it does not cost money for us to set an example every day in this House. It does not cost money to make a declaration. It does not cost more money for us to challenge our chiefs, our Métis leaders and our mayors, our councillors, and the people who work in our communities supposedly on behalf of our constituents. Challenge them to make the same declaration, because in the end, the more of us that make it, the more of us that commit to no violence and to show no tolerance for violence against not only our children and our women and our elders but each other as well. In the end, it will really cost no money. Thank you.
-- Applause