B.C. slammed for cuts to domestic-violence programs: 'British Columbia does not lead the country in this area and we need to catch up with others,' according to report
Justine Hunter
Victoria — Globe and Mail
Sep. 25, 2009

In the spring of 2007, Premier Gordon Campbell hosted a congress on women's safety, promising to make the issue of domestic violence a priority of his government.

"Our government is committed to leading the way in North America in healthy living, which includes living without fear of violence," he told the congress.

Yesterday, the province's watchdog for children and youth said the Premier has failed in that great goal.

"British Columbia does not lead the country in this area and we need to catch up with others," Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond said in a report on domestic violence.

For the past week, the Campbell government has been under attack for cutting programs to victims of domestic violence. Yesterday, Ms. Turpel-Lafond, the Representative for Children and Youth, said she has asked for a meeting with the Premier to press him for a commitment to improve.

In writing her report, she went over the issues raised at the Premier's congress and then looked for evidence that the province had improved its services to victims of domestic violence.

"I wasn't able to find any individual change," Ms. Turpel-Lafond said at a news conference…

Tracy Porteous, executive director of the Ending Violence Association of B.C., said the province has been moving backward with funding cuts….