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GUEST COLUMN - NDP
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WALLY OPPAL MUST STOP DEFENDING B.C. LIBERAL FAILURE ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE |
By JAGRUP BRAR, MLA for Surrey-Panorama Ridge
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During my time serving as an MLA, one of the most disturbing patterns I've seen is the current government's continuing failure to address the issue of domestic violence and the problems facing vulnerable children and families. This attitude has been highlighted again in the Liberal government's response to the Oak Bay murders.
What is even more troubling is the current government's lack of understanding about the impact of its cuts to key supports for B.C.'s women, children and families. In a recent letter to the World Journal newspaper, Oppal denied the existence of key supports for women and families that his government eliminated and displayed a lack of understanding of the impact of these cuts.
"British Columbia has never had a zero tolerance policy on domestic violence, even during the NDP's 10-year administration," said Mr. Oppal, blatantly denying the existence of this widely-recognized and a key legal safeguard that the NDP government upheld during the 1990s until it was eliminated by the B.C. Liberals in 2002.
To make matters worse, the government didn't even monitor the impact of this change. Under this policy, prosecutors were bound to lay charges and prosecute alleged abusers whenever police responded to a call of domestic violence. It was, in essence, a pro-arrest, pro-charge policy. Several provinces in Canada maintain this policy, including Manitoba and Ontario.
In 2002, the B.C. Liberals ended the zero tolerance policy. Prosecutors were instead directed to divert abusive men to alternative programs rather than maintaining the vigorous prosecution stance. A freedom of information request to the Ministry of Attorney General filed by the NDP Official Opposition late last year showed that the government had neither undertaken any research nor conducted a review regarding the impact of their decision to move away from this policy.
In his letter to World Journal, Oppal also refused to admit that the elimination of the Crown Victims Services program by the Campbell Liberals was a mistake, saying instead that the, "… new approach is working because charge approvals and guilty verdicts remain stable."
Clearly, the B.C. Liberals fail to understand that helping victims isn't just about getting convictions, it's about protecting families. Under the Crown Victim Services program cut by the B.C. Liberals, if a husband was charged with intentionally injuring his wife, a victim services worker from the Crown Prosecutor's office would ensure that the woman and her family had a plan to ensure their safety. They would assess the situation to ensure that no financial, cultural or geographical barriers prevented a family from getting help.
One of Gordon Campbell's first cuts, the Crown Victim Services program, was replaced with a less effective and under-funded referral system. Whether it's denial or ignorance, Attorney General Oppal's inaction is hurting children and families.
Mr. Oppal's remarks represent a denial by this government to admit its mistakes - and it shows that they're still not prepared to stand up for B.C.'s women and families.
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