BC Coalition of Women's
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February 1, 2005
Media Advisory
For immediate release
BC Liberals Attempt to Boost Votes
BC - The BC Coalition of Women’s Centres wants to set the record
straight. Today’s announcement by the BC Liberals of 4.6 million
going into legal services represents less than 12% of what they
have already cut since taking office. The fact is that the BC
Liberals cut 40% of the legal services budget for a total of 34
million. This announcement is about boosting votes not services.
While increased legal aid funding is essential in BC, this announcement
is designed to mislead women into believing that help will be there
when they need it.
Further, it does nothing but add insult to injury with respect to the damage already done.
Women’s Centres see women on a daily basis who are denied Legal aid in
Family or Poverty law due to funding cuts. The most
significant of the family law legal aid cut is that women are being
forced to represent themselves in court. Today’s announcement
does nothing to address the real need that women have- to have a legal
aid lawyer.
The BC Liberals have further misrepresented the services provided - not all cases involving spousal abuse are covered.
The impact of the 34 million cut from legal services has lasting and
irrevocable implications for women and their children. A person’s
ability to pay should not impact the level of justice they have access
to. Forcing women to represent themselves in court is not just
and not acceptable.
Until justice is restored in BC, meaning fully funding legal aid,
providing community law offices and community advocates women continue
to be shafted by the BC Liberals and a system not sensitive to their
needs.
The BC Coalition calls on the BC Liberals to fully restore funding and
access to legal aid. To stop the ruse of attempting to buy votes
with pre-election announcements that do nothing to repair the damage
they have done to women in BC.
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