Premier David Eby has issued the following statement marking International Women’s Day:

“On International Women’s Day, we celebrate the achievements of women and girls here in British Columbia, across Canada and around the world. It is a day to reaffirm our commitment to building a better, more inclusive future.

“This year’s International Women’s Day theme of ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For all women and girls’ is a statement of shared determination to advance the rights and empowerment of women and girls.

“While women continue to make strides in all areas of society, much more work still needs to be done.

“That is why in British Columbia we are working hard to make child care more affordable, to reduce and eliminate the gender pay gap by making investments in the health of women and gender-diverse people, and to keep people safe from gender-based violence, including intimate-partner violence.

“Women and girls continue to make great strides in sports, in culture and in the workplace. The growing popularity of women’s professional hockey is one indicator that doors of opportunity and inclusion will continue to open.

“As a society, we have come a long way in advancing women’s rights in many ways, but we still have a long way to go.

“On International Women’s Day, let’s celebrate the women in our lives and reflect on how best we can all move forward to contributing to end gender discrimination in its many forms.”

Jennifer Blatherwick, parliamentary secretary for gender equity, said:

“On International Women’s Day, we honour the leadership, resilience and strength of women and girls in every community. This year’s theme reminds us that progress grows when we lift each other up. By working together to close gaps in safety, opportunity and economic security, we build a province where every woman, girl and gender-diverse person is valued, protected and able to thrive. Today, we recommit to that essential work.”