Today marks a grim anniversary in Canadian history.

It was on December 6th of 1989 that a gunman entered the École Polytechnique in Montreal, singled out the women and started shooting.

Fourteen women were killed and ten other women and four men were injured.

The NDP’s Sheilagh O’Leary says the young women were singled out solely because of their gender, and their loss serves as a stark reminded of the violence women continue to face in society.

She says at a time of shifting political ideology, particularly in the United States, it’s important for women and those who are gender diverse, to know that they deserve equal opportunity, and respect.

She’s calling on the provincial government to support and invest in programs and groups that fight to end gender-based violence, commit to diversity, equity and inclusion at all levels of government, and deliver on pay equity legislation.