Selected quotes from Parliament Hill on International Women’s Day

OTTAWA – International Women’s Day figured prominently on Parliament Hill on Tuesday.

Here’s a selection of what was said:

“In this country, we can be immensely proud of a long line of strong women who have stepped up time and time again to make history against all odds. Women fought for the vote. They fought for personhood and for reproductive rights. More recently, women now occupy 50 per cent of the seats around our cabinet table.” — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau

“We know that public policies affect women and men in difference ways and we take these differences into account when making decisions. That is exactly what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau did in November when he appointed this country’s first gender-balanced cabinet.” — Public Services and Procurement Minister Judy Foote

“Because it’s International Women’s Day, I raised an issue about the Yazidi girls in Iraq. This is an issue that I’m passionate about and I’m hopeful that the prime minister is going to respond positively. The Yazidi girls right now, there’s hundreds of them who are … internationally displaced persons. That means they are not considered refugees by the United Nations.” — Conservative interim leader Rona Ambrose

“International Women’s Day can celebrate women’s achievements and highlight what holds us back, but words ring hollow if there is no follow through, no action.Our collective work over this next year must be based in action: What can we in this chamber do to end epidemic violence against women?—NDP status of women critic Sheila Malcolmson

“This International Women’s Day, I want to pay tribute to all those courageous women around the world and in Canada who have inspired me: the women I knew in Congo who were beaten by police and undressed in the street simply for peacefully demonstrating for their right to fair elections.” —Liberal MP Anita Vandenbeld