Elizabeth May, Saanich—Gulf Islands
Linked statement
“Mother's Day started as a call for peace by women who were tired of war. Today, mothers are suffering from wars and violence in Ukraine, Palestine, Russia, Israel, Sudan, and Canada. We should use this Mother's Day to call for peace.”
“Mr. Speaker, Mother’s Day was not invented by Hallmark Cards. In the late 1800s,there was an annual mother’s day for peace. It was started by mothers and women who were sick of seeing the ravages of war after the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. They started an annual day to call for an end to war. In 2026, let us think of the mothers of Ukraine, whose children are being stolen by Putin to erase their culture. Let us think of the mothers of Palestine, whose grief is unending. Let us think of our indigenous mothers, whose daughters are still missing and murdered. Let us think of the mothers of Russia, whose children are being stolen by Putin for an illegal war. This Mother’s Day, whether it is for mothers in Israel or in Sudan, we know that Mother’s Day is all about love, but let us take a moment and let Mother’s Day be a cry for peace.”
Mr. Speaker, Mother’s Day was not invented by Hallmark Cards. In the late 1800s,there was an annual mother’s day for peace. It was started by mothers and women who were sick of seeing the ravages of war after the Civil War and the Franco-Prussian War. They started an annual day to call for an end to war. In 2026, let us think of the mothers of Ukraine, whose children are being stolen by Putin to erase their culture. Let us think of the mothers of Palestine, whose grief is unending. Let us think of our indigenous mothers, whose daughters are still missing and murdered. Let us think of the mothers of Russia, whose children are being stolen by Putin for an illegal war. This Mother’s Day, whether it is for mothers in Israel or in Sudan, we know that Mother’s Day is all about love, but let us take a moment and let Mother’s Day be a cry for peace.