Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to take a few minutes to recognize and honour those in our neighbourhoods and communities who are victims of sexual abuse and who are suffering silently. I would especially like to honour the stories of those who are victimized as children and let them know we, as a society, demand and accept nothing less than zero tolerance against any kind of violence, especially when it comes to sexual violence or violence of any kind against our young and innocent children.

Mr. Speaker, I don’t believe there is any task more important for people who sit around this room and for leaders in our communities than protecting our young children. When we fail in this regard, we, as adults and as public persons, all have to take our share of collective responsibility for that.

On this day I want to, in a very public way, send a private message to each and every one of the victims out there and say to them that it is never your fault when adults around you and adults you trust violate you physically, sexually, mentally, or in any way that makes you feel inadequate or makes you feel less than the perfect little person that you are. It is the adults who are to blame. I want to also say to them very loudly and clearly, Mr. Speaker, that we understand profoundly that it takes enormous strength and courage for any victim of child abuse and child sexual abuse to speak out about what was done to them. I want to tell them that they have the right to find their own time and place to tell their stories in ways that feel right to them whenever and however they are ready. We honour them for that.

Mr. Speaker, I want to further tell them that when they do speak up, we, as a society, will listen to them and that we will have laws and other mechanisms in place that will confirm, once again, that we, as a society, believe, practice and enforce the principle of zero tolerance against any violence, especially against our children. Even if, along the way, we find disappointments in telling their stories and having their stories taken seriously, and even when, at times, it is just too painful to keep speaking out, I want to tell them, please don’t be discouraged and please don’t stop because if you believe and we believe, you will eventually have your say and justice will be done because there are many adults who are here to help you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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