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Question Period on Domestic Violence

Ms Blakeman:

Mr. Speaker, continuing to take the same action and expecting different results is the definition of insanity. At this time we have more women who are assaulted in domestic situations than ever before. Fifty per cent, half, of those women who approach shelters have to be turned away. Understandably, women with children get first access to shelters and services, but it guarantees that women without children will be turned away.

My questions are to the Deputy Premier. What new approaches have been developed to specifically assist women without children who suffer domestic assault and violence?

Mr. Snelgrove:

I think, Mr. Speaker that it would be fair to say that Treasury Board doesn’t get into the inter-ministerial stuff. I will say that there is a sexual assault shelter in Lloydminster that I am very familiar with. I know that they have been working with the minister, with the department. The circumstances around so many are changing because there are so many different family stresses or situations. I don’t have any specific response for her. She might be able to reappropriate her question to them, but I can tell you that we are very aware of the importance in our communities of these centres.

The Speaker:The hon. member.

Ms Blakeman:

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To the Solicitor General. Victims of domestic assault are victims of crime. So given that the victims of crime fund has amassed a considerable surplus in the range of $40 million, which continues to grow, what new programs for the prevention of domestic assault and violence have been piloted or funded through this mountain of money?

Mr. Lindsay:

Well, Mr. Speaker, I don’t have the specifics on any particular program, but I will say that we have increased funding substantially over the last couple of years to victims of violence, including victims of family violence, so we are doing what we can.

Ms Blakeman:

You fund $4 million a year and with a $40 million surplus. To the President of the Treasury Board. As politicians we have utterly failed to deliver on promises to reduce child poverty and domestic assault. I’ll remind everyone that children are not Cabbage Patch dolls. Poor children come from poor families. If they are single-parent families, 80 per cent of them will be headed by women. With all the resources that Alberta has compared to other provinces, why are we not leaders in these areas?

Mr. Snelgrove:

Mr. Speaker, it’s really unfair to suggest that we’re not leaders in caring for those in Alberta that are vulnerable. Not only on the issue that the hon. member brings up, we have probably, well, some of the biggest support programs, departments in the country. We fund the social aspect of vulnerable Albertans far in excess of any other province in this country. So to pick out a specific program and say, “There, you’re not quite giving them as much as I’d like; therefore, you don’t care about women and children in those areas” is just unfair, and it’s not true.