Following the death of a 40-year-old woman in Quebec's Montérégie region, two provincial ministers are denouncing the frequency with which women have been killed in the first weeks of 2026. "Behind these numbers, there are lives, families and broken dreams," the statement reads, adding that the provincial government takes the issue of violence against women seriously. Rocha Cruz, a 44-year-old woman, was last seen on Jan. 7 in Quebec City's Sainte-Foy area. Last week, Quebec City police announced that a body had been found in the St. Lawrence River and investigators believed it was Rocha Cruz's. A 43-year-old man from Laval is currently facing charges of assault causing bodily harm in connection with that case.

Source: CBC News January 19, 2026 16:58 UTC