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Survival is a sacred journey of reclaiming the human spirit, a path that requires immense courage to walk and a safe community to sustain. In our darkest hours, when the weight of trauma feels unbearable, we look toward the horizon for a glimmer of light to guide us back to safety, dignity, and peace. Today, we gather with hearts full of profound gratitude because that light has been mirrored by our leaders, who have chosen compassion over indifference. Across municipal, provincial, and federal halls, the Government of Canada has made a solemn vow to stand firmly with us, ensuring that our pain is seen and our voices are heard. We thank you for not feeling that we take up space, but rather welcoming us with open arms as essential members of this nation. The Government of Canada has held a sacred space for our healing, honoured our resilience, and proven that the protection of the vulnerable is a foundational pillar of our society.
At the local level, our municipal leaders, community workers, and federal partners act as the vital first line of defense, offering the immediate hands that catch us when we fall. You are the ones who build and maintain the shelters, fund the emergency crisis lines, and ensure that our neighbourhoods remain safe spaces for families to rebuild their lives. Your daily dedication turns cold, empty rooms into warm sanctuaries of hope, providing the immediate safety net that saves lives in moments of absolute crisis. By investing directly in local community resources, grassroots organizations, and specialized training for first responders, you show us that the Government of Canada and our local leaders care deeply for our well-being and future. We thank you for not feeling that we take up space in your local budgets and community priorities, ensuring instead that our needs are met with dignity. We are deeply grateful for this localized care, which reminds every survivor that they are not alone in their own backyard.
Across our diverse provinces, our regional leaders weave a broader, more comprehensive net of healing that bridges the gap between crisis and long-term independence. You invest heavily in our health care systems, dedicated mental health resources, legal aid, and specialized long-term recovery programs that allow us to process our trauma over time. You ensure that no matter where we stand on this vast soil, whether in a bustling city or a remote rural town, a life saving resource is always within reach. Your provincial policies, social service funding, and educational initiatives pave steady, reliable roads toward a brighter and more stable tomorrow for thousands of families. We thank you for not feeling that we take up space within the provincial infrastructure, making room for our healing journey to be prioritized. This regional support, bolstered by federal investments, provides the structural backbone of our recovery, allowing us to transition from merely surviving to truly thriving.
At the national level, the Government of Canada provides a powerful, enduring shield of dignity, justice, and systemic law that echoes across the international stage. You dedicate vital national resources, introduce progressive legislation, and bring critical public attention to the urgent mission of ending the shadow of abuse in all its forms. Your unwavering commitment sends a clear, unmistakable message to every survivor that our individual stories matter to the entire fabric of this nation. We thank you for being our advocates on a national stage, and amplifying our voices so they can be heard far and wide. By establishing national standards of protection, funding nationwide research, and supporting federal initiatives, the Government of Canada defends our fundamental human rights with absolute resolve and grace. This overarching leadership ensures that the fight against abuse remains a top priority for the country, giving us a powerful collective voice.
We place our profound, sacred trust in your continued leadership as we look forward to the work that still lies ahead. Walking this path of recovery requires an ongoing alliance of courage from survivors and steadfast dedication from our elected officials, and the continued support from the Government of Canada gives us the strength to keep moving forward. We thank you for weaving our collective sacred stories of recovery and bravery into the very heart of Canada’s destiny. We ask that your hearts remain open to new emerging peaceful policy suggestions and that your political resolve stays strong as we work together to build a safer, more compassionate future for generations to come. Thank you for your generous donations, your continuous work, and for defending us with honour, dignity, and integrity in our times of greatest need. Your partnership is a testament to the strength of our country, and we are deeply grateful for your unwavering presence by our side.
I am deeply grateful for the exceptional leadership, unwavering compassion, and steadfast dedication demonstrated by Prime Minister Mark Carney, Premier Doug Ford, and Mayor Rob Burton in their tireless efforts to protect and support survivors during their times of greatest need. Their collective commitment to creating robust support systems while championing the safety and dignity of individuals navigating trauma reflects the very best of public service. Because of their vision and proactive leadership, we are fostering communities where healing is prioritized, and the voices of vulnerable individuals are truly heard and valued. In Canada, no survivor has to walk their journey alone, instead, they are met with a unified front of leaders who ensure that safety, resources, and institutional support are always within reach, offering a beacon of hope and strength on the path to recovery.
I want to express my deepest appreciation and sincere gratitude to The Attorney General Doug Downey, The Solicitor General Michael Kerzner, Parliamentary Assistant to the Attorney General Monica Ciriello, and Associate Solicitor General Zee Hamid for their unwavering dedication and steadfast commitment to protecting survivors of abuse.
Advocating for vulnerable individuals while ensuring safety, dignity, and justice for survivors requires immense moral leadership, consistent effort, and proactive advocacy. By prioritizing the safety and well-being of survivors, these Members of Provincial Parliament have shown that building a safer, more compassionate, and accountable province in Ontario is a fundamental priority. Their continued legislative efforts, community leadership, and voice in government provide vital reinforcement to the support systems that survivors rely on during their darkest moments.
True systemic change happens when leaders actively listen to the voices of those impacted by abuse and translate their needs into meaningful action. The ongoing work of MPP Downey, MPP Ciriello, MPP Kerzner, and MPP Hamid helps break down barriers to safety, strengthens community protections, and ensures that survivors are neither forgotten nor left to heal alone. Their leadership sends a clear and powerful message that abuse will not be tolerated, and that those who have experienced it will always have advocates fighting for them at the highest levels of governance. I am profoundly thankful for their continued vigilance, their empathy, and their enduring public service on this critical issue.
I would also like to make a special dedication in honour and recognition of MPP Jess Dixon for her steadfast leadership and exceptional public service. From her years spent protecting the community as a Crown prosecutor to her tireless work at Queen’s Park, Jess embodies the values of integrity, accountability, and true advocacy. Thank you, Jess, for listening to your constituents and continuously working to build a stronger, safer, and a more resilient Ontario. As a survivor, I offer my deepest gratitude to Jess Dixon, MPP, for her professional, empathetic, and fierce, unwavering dedication to survivors of intimate partner violence and sexual assault across Ontario. From her decade on the front lines as an Assistant Crown Attorney to her transformative legislative leadership, Jess has been a powerful, compassionate voice for those who have suffered in silence. By authoring Ontario’s landmark 2025 Intimate Partner Violence report while securing critical funding for child witnesses and survivors, she has turned painful truths into actionable, lifesaving policy. Her visionary push to recognize domestic abuse as an endemic crisis demands that our society provide permanent, structural support rather than temporary fixes. Thank you, Jess, for your tireless work to build a safer, more just province where survivors are heard, protected, and empowered to heal.
ELISABETH BABARCI 