The 2013 British Columbia budget has been released, and there are no increases provided for critical services that respond to violence against women and children throughout B.C., nor in the South Cariboo, says Terri Lewis, executive director of the 100 Mile House & District Women’s Centre Society.
Yet awareness of violence against women and children is rising and service delivery pressures are at an all time high, says adds.
Many reports make recommendations for change and increased funding; however, no new resources have been allocated in the government’s budget for safety and services for women and kids.
“We were disappointed to see no increases for services that would help families and women and children experiencing domestic and sexual violence in 100 Mile House. The Stopping the Violence Counselling Program provides counselling and support to women who have experienced or who are experiencing any type of violence or abuse in their life.
“The Safe House Program provides short-term housing and support to women and their children who are fleeing abuse. We provide these services to the District of 100 Mile House and also to women who are fleeing abuse from other communities. Over the past year, the Women’s Centre has assisted women on 4,546 occasions with various services.”
This is despite numerous Coroner’s Inquests and Death Review Panels across North America that have identified that access to such services is critical to life-saving help for victims, Lewis says.
The 2013 budget includes a $197 million surplus. It also includes an added $5 million to address problem gambling and $52 million for increased RCMP costs, including costs associated with gang activity.
Yet there are no increases to ensure victims of domestic and sexual violence have access to important life-saving support services, she adds.
While the B.C. government has spent significant resources on Commissions of Inquiry and Justice Reform initiatives, there are no funds in the budget to implement these and other report recommendations.
Examples of these reports include Forsaken: The Report of the Missing Women Commission of Inquiry; BC’s Domestic Violence Death Review Panel Report; Honouring Christian Lee; Kaitlyn, Max and Corydon; BC Policing and Community Safety Plan; Family Law Reforms; and White Papers on Justice Reforms.
“Concrete action is needed to prevent this senseless violence. The time for general statements of support and further study has passed,” says EVA BC executive director Tracy Porteous.
“We need action and programs, not merely more committees, more reports, more plans and more summits.”
