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Happy International Women’s Day! Hello everyone.

Thank you, Rébecca, for that introduction and for all of your leadership, whether it’s on the student union or in the fight against climate change. Like everyone here this morning, you remind us that young women are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but more importantly, the leaders of today.

It’s great to be here for the first-ever virtual sitting of Daughters of the Vote.

I know this isn’t how we would normally be celebrating. But then again, change isn’t always a bad thing.

Just think about the fact that 100 years ago today, there wasn’t a single woman in the House of Commons. It would still be almost a year until the first woman MP was elected, and almost forty years until every woman could vote.

If things have improved in Canada, it’s not just by chance. It has happened because women have stood up and demanded change.

Women fought for equal rights and to become pioneers in every field. They fought through world wars and through a great depression.  

Yesterday, it was their turn to lead.

Today, it’s yours.

This pandemic has been tough for everyone.  

But for women and young people, it’s been especially hard.

Of course, I don’t have to tell you that.

You’re living it.

We talk about this economic crisis as a she-cession but we’re not just talking about numbers and charts.

We’re talking about young people navigating a world that has never been more uncertain. We’re talking about women losing jobs at double the rate of men, and mothers doing a double shift with work and kids.

Over the last year, we have seen once again how tough times fall first and hardest on the most vulnerable.

Too many women and too many communities are facing inequality and racism, including during this pandemic.

Together, we are making progress. But I hear young leaders like you when you say that for Black women, Indigenous women, and women of colour, there’s much further still to go.

Let’s be clear. There is a lot that government can and should do to make sure the legacy of this pandemic isn’t one of rolling back progress for women.

That’s exactly why we created the $5 billion Women Entrepreneurship Strategy. It’s why we’re working toward a Canada-wide early learning and childcare system.

And these efforts aren’t new. For years we’ve put intersectionality at the heart of all our policies with a Gender-based Analysis plus lens. 

This is incredibly important work.

But it’s not actually what I want to talk with you about today.

Because you don’t need a speech from me about the solutions to this crisis.

You don’t need me to tell you how to change things for the better. 

You already know what has to come next.   

We need your voices and your passion guiding us forward.

And not just on the recovery from this pandemic, but on fighting systemic racism, on fighting gender-based violence, on fighting climate change.

We need your ideas and your drive, from the boardroom to the lab to this House of Commons because this is your place and this is your time.

If you’re a young woman – this is your House.

If you’re part of LGBTQ2 communities – this is your House. 

If you are Indigenous, if you are Black, if you are a person of colour – this is your House.

Whether you live with a disability,

Whether your first language is French, English, or something else,

Whether you practice a faith or not, this is your House.

We reached an important milestone this past November: for the first time ever, there are 100 women MPs in our country.

That’s major progress, but let’s be honest, there’s so much further still to go.

Only one woman has been Prime Minister of Canada.

After more than 150 years, that’s not a great statistic.

But looking at this virtual session, and seeing young leaders like Rébecca, who is in my seat today, I know that things are going to change.

And when they do, we will all be better off for it.

In the last year, we have seen what it means to have women leading the way through a crisis.

Look no further than the first woman Finance Minister – Chrystia Freeland – and Minister Qualtrough, who are making sure that families have the support they need. Or take Minister Monsef, who’s worked tirelessly with women’s shelters and grassroots organizations.

We’re all better off when women are at the decision-making table.

From Minister Hajdu and Minister Anand, who are leading on public health measures and vaccines, to every woman and girl who has stepped up for her community – we are all stronger for the leadership of women and people of every gender identity.

After this year there’s no doubt, when you add women, you change politics.

And you change it for the better.

Throughout our history, progress has been made when young women have made their voices heard.

Today, as we chart a course to rebuild a country that is fairer, stronger, and more equitable – it is your turn to take action.

This is your moment.

You are going to make history.

And we will be with you every step of the way.

Thank you everyone.

Happy International Women’s Day, everyone!