Cutting remarks cost Heed credibility
Robert Matas
Globe and Mail
Oct. 02, 2009

“We have actually increased funding to deal with victims of violence by $2.4-million, to $43-million.” B.C. Solicitor-General Kash Heed, in response to questions about a $440,000 cut in funding for domestic-violence programs.

It took Mr. Heed five days to swallow his words.

On Thursday, Sept. 24, Mr. Heed was boasting about more money for domestic violence programs. On the following Tuesday, Sept. 29, he announced the government would give an additional $440,000 for domestic-violence programs.

His misstatements further damaged the credibility of a government…

Mr. Heed's disingenuous response on Sept. 24 followed a question from NDP Mable Elmore, the party's deputy critic for the Ministry of Children and Family Development. “This Premier and this government pledge to make addressing domestic violence a priority through a long-term concerted effort,” Ms. Elmore said. “Now the Solicitor-General is cutting $440,000 this year and $1.2-million next year in funding for precisely the programs meant to protect women and children.”

After Mr. Heed claimed that funding had increased, a ministry press release distributed to the media stated the government was spending $43-million on victims of crime and domestic violence. Only $16.47-million in the budget was earmarked for domestic violence. The majority of the funds went to programs providing assistance to victims of crime.

Mr. Heed did not acknowledge his mistake when he put back the money that had been cut…. He characterized the reversal as the government “taking steps to protect front-line services for victims of domestic violence.”

Sounding as if the cutbacks had never happened, Mr. Heed stated that these programs were “vital to preventing domestic violence…

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