Mr. Speaker, today is Pink Shirt Day, an annual tradition where we stand against bullying in all of its forms. Back in 2007, two students bought 50 pink shirts after a younger student Chuck McNeill was bullied for wearing a pink polo during the first day of school. As a father of three amazing kids, I can tell you how important this day is for my family. My family has had to deal with bullying in and out of school, and it never gets any easier, but days like today give us all hope as we call out bullies and remind vulnerable kids that -- and even grownups that it gets better.
It's important to remember a couple of things. First, the reasons Chuck McNeill was targeted by bullies are deeply rooted in homophobia and misogyny. The actions of bullies have been influenced by the bigotry and are influenced by the bigotry of others, and they, in turn, seek to reinforce that bigotry on people whose only crime is being different.
Second, the bigoted attitudes which influence bullies at school are learned from adults. Worse yet, those attitudes are on the rise as evident by the success of far-right political movements in democracies across the world. What we are seeing played out through daily developments from the United States and its odious president is that bullying on a much grander scale is on the rise, and it only encourages bullies everywhere else to follow along.
Pink Shirt Day is not just about encouraging our children to be kind and polite to each other at school, it's about standing up to the root causes of bullying and the most powerful of bullies because our children are watching, and we want our strength to teach them how to stand up and look out for each other.
So let me be clear, Canada, Canadians, and Northerners will not be bullied or broken by anyone. The North will stay strong and free as it has since time immemorial. Mr. Trump, we aren't afraid of your tariffs, your dictator friends, or the hatred you spew from your bully pulpit. We value diversity, compassion, and equality, and we won't and never rest until the NWT and Canada is free of discrimination. Northerners take care of each other in times of good and bad, and we will stand together against bigotry, hatred, homophobia, racism, and any affronts to our dignity. We share this message and proudly take care to remember it for the days, months, and years to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Range Lake. Members' statements. Member from Yellowknife North.
