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I will always remember Dec. 6, 1989 as the darkest day of my life.
It was the day I was shot four times with a semi-automatic rifle, while six more seriously injured classmates died around me. In all, 14 young women were killed by an angry man with a legally acquired non-restricted long gun.
The shootings at Ecole Polytechnique triggered a nation-wide movement to improve our gun-control laws, culminating with the passage of Bill C-68, which introduced a system of licences for all gun owners and the registration of all firearms. Every anniversary since (this being the sixth), we drew strength from the progressive reduction in gun-related murders, suicides and accidents.
But, that is not the case this year.
The 22nd anniversary of the massacre will be the worst day since the tragedy for the many witnesses and survivors like me. One of the most positive and measurable outcome of the tragedy - the very thing that reassured the families that their daughters had not died in vain - is being obliterated by a heartless, obtuse and ideologically driven government.
Ignoring all major police, public health, suicide prevention and victims' organizations, the Conservatives are ramming Bill C-19 though Parliament.
This legislation will not only abolish the long-gun registry and destroy the data on 7.1 million rifles and shotguns; it will also remove the sellers' obligation to verify if a buyer has a valid licence, sabotaging the very provisions intended to ensure long guns are only sold to licensed individuals.
With C-19, there will be fewer controls on purchasing long guns than on borrowing a book. At least in a library, you have to show your library card.
Less than two weeks ago, while testifying before a parliamentary committee with fellow graduate Heidi Rathjen, I reminded the conservatives that the police use the registry every day to confiscate long guns from gun owners whose licence has been revoked for public safety reasons - over 2,000 times a year. I also reminded them these interventions coincided with a 34 per cent reduction in gun deaths in Canada, including a 64 per cent reduction in women being shot to death.
After our testimony, the Conservative members completely ignored us and what we said.
Instead of addressing the dangers posed by long guns or the weakening of the licensing provisions, MP Candice Hoeppner shamelessly reiterated the Conservatives' supposed unwavering support for licensing, saying she "believe[s] very strongly that we need to strengthen the licensing process" ... while the bill before her will render inoperable these very same provisions. What good is a thorough screening process if you don't need to show a licence to buy a long gun, including guns like the Ruger mini-14 that was used at Polytechnique and remains non-restricted?
However, this was the pattern of the Conservatives throughout the debate on C-19: ignoring facts, disregarding science, discrediting experts, using imbecilic arguments, and diverting attention.
But, it's not over until it's over. If Canadians clamour loud enough, and if opinion leaders point out the fallacies and dangers of the government's position, then maybe enough Conservative senators will do the right thing and vote against Bill C-19.
The safety of our future generations depends on them.
Nathalie Provost is a survivor of the Dec. 6, 1989 massacre.