Premier saddened by fatal daytime stabbings
Premier François Legault says, like everyone, he is aghast over two recent daytime stabbing deaths in Montreal.
“I think it's terrible, especially what happened to this woman, on the street,” Legault told reporters at a news conference explaining new daycare legislation. “I cannot believe this happened here in Quebec.
“We already announced a lot of additional money especially for women who suffer at home. They can move to new places but, of course, it's not easy to make sure that it doesn't happen.”
He said Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault has been working on the issue. In April, Guilbault announced a $223-million investment over five years to fight domestic violence following a spike in femicides.
More than $90 million of the total was earmarked for women's shelters.
Guilbault has also recently announced that Quebec will spend $90 million to crack down on gun violence.
“We'll continue to invest but, of course, as the premier of Quebec I don't like to see this,” Legault said.
On Wednesday, a 24-year-old woman was fatally stabbed on the sidewalk near Mcgill University. Romane Bonnier, 24, died in the hospital after suffering multiple stab wounds in the attack, which took place on Aylmer St. just south of Milton Ave., at about 4:30 p.m.
On Monday, 16-year-old Jannai Dopwell-bailey died after being fatally stabbed in an altercation with other teens outside his school, Programme Mile End High School, on Van Horne Ave.
At the National Assembly, politicians expressed their shock and dismay.
“I have difficulty expressing all the sadness, anger and indignation faced with such violence,” Québec solidaire MNA Manon Massé said offering her sympathy to the family of Bonnier.
“Once again, in broad daylight on a street of Montreal a woman was killed. It's one too many. And at this rate we will reach 20 before the end of the year and this is terrible.”
Parti Québécois MNA Méganne Perry Mélançon also expressed her sympathy to the family and called on the government to rapidly produce a clear plan for fighting such violence.
Isabelle Charest, the Minister Responsible for the Status of
Women, also expressed shock, saying while Quebec has made some progress fighting the problem “there is still work to be done.”
“It's absolutely tragic,” Charest told reporters. “Every time something like this happens, it's tragic.”