Read her response to MLA Karagianis below:
Thank you, hon. Speaker, for the opportunity to respond to the member opposite on such an important topic. There is no doubt that this is a complex and sensitive issue. I acknowledge that it is of deep importance to both sides of this House.
Our government takes the safety of women very seriously, as I do. It is personal with each and every citizen, I believe, in this province and especially in this House. We have done much, and we all know we can always do more.
Our government is committed to introduce a long-term comprehensive strategy to move towards a violence-free B.C. The strategy for a violence-free B.C. will be a path to create a province where all women have the supports they need to help prevent violence, to escape from violent situations and recover if they have been victims of violent crime. It takes everyone to accomplish this, not just government.
Highway 16, the Highway of Tears. It is incredibly tragic to hear the stories of missing and murdered aboriginal women.
That is why our government has taken a number of actions to make all B.C. highways safer and to support communities and vulnerable women. The work conducted by Steven Point, the former chair of the advisory committee on the safety and security of vulnerable women, pointed to the need for safer transportation options on our northern highways.
Fundamentally this means two things: (1) that there need to be adequate public transportation options and (2) that we need to ensure that those who are travelling are safe.
Specifically, government is committing $4.5 million per year in public transportation options, including $1.5 million per year to B.C. Transit to partner with local communities, including services operating along northern highways between Smithers and Telkwa, between Hazelton and Smithers and Kispiox, Terrace and Kitimat, and between Prince Rupert and Port Edward. If other local governments or First Nations along the northern highways would like to partner and cost-share for similar services, B.C. Transit is always open to such discussions.
Investing in cell coverage along the highway is also a key priority, especially if people need to call for emergency services and support if they are in danger. Hon. Speaker, 70 percent of the highway already has cell coverage, but we are taking steps to add a significant amount of new cell coverage to Highway 16. It is my understanding that in partnership with Telus, there has been $7 million spent for cell services in the northern part of British Columbia, ongoing.
Our government is also investing in support services. In March this year our government provided Carrier-Sekani Family Services with $100,000 to expand safety training workshops for communities near Highway 16, which will include further discussions on safe transportation options.
In Prince George, for example, our government purchased and renovated the Astoria Hotel to provide a safe place of healing for women facing a range of challenges. We have also supported the Prince George New Hope Society drop-in centre with a $100,000 civil forfeiture grant to help women and youth, because we want to keep women in all parts of this province safe from violence.
This is all being accomplished through partnerships with local communities and First Nations. I want to publicly thank them and acknowledge them for their support. There is no simple solution. This is an incredibly complex issue requiring a thoughtful and long-term solution. Solving this will not be easy.
It will require hard work on the part of our government, members opposite and community and First Nation leaders to continue to work together to ensure all women in B.C. are safe and to prevent the tragedies of the past from ever happening again.
Leaders to continue to work together to ensure that all women in B.C. are safe and preventing the tragedies of the past from ever happening again.
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