Introduction
Good morning and thank you, Premier, for hosting this important Congress on Women’s Safety.

This is so timely, as we recognize Prevention of Violence Against Women Week in British Columbia.

Each one of us is here because we’re seeking a solution to an extremely difficult and terribly complex issue: how we prevent violence against women and ensure women’s safety in all of our communities.

Some of us may have had a personal encounter with this type of violence ourselves.

And while it can be painful to talk about, violence against women is a problem we cannot ignore, nor one we can wish away.

Violence against women is unacceptable.

As Minister of Community Services and Minister Responsible for Seniors’ and Women’s Issues, I’ve had an opportunity to visit with many women in transition houses throughout our province, in different regions, and in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

I’ve also had opportunities to hear the thoughts and concerns of Aboriginal women, specifically, through our recent Aboriginal Women’s dialogue.

I’ve heard compelling and heart-rending accounts of what some women have been through, of the help they’ve needed to overcome their situations – but, most importantly – of their strength and determination to move to a better future.

We all have a role to play here.

Here in the audience, we have judges, educators, law enforcement officials, First Nations leaders and community agency representatives.

It is up to all of us working together to make a difference.

As your provincial government, we are working hard to address these complex issues – issues we need to address in partnership.

We are committed to providing intervention services for women and their children fleeing abuse, to help them to move forward to a safer future.

We’ve increased our support for programs and services aimed at violence intervention and invested in both community-based and province-wide endeavours aimed at preventing violence against women from ever happening in the first place.

As an example, our Partners in Prevention grants – just recently announced – focus on projects that collaborate with men and boys, as partners in the prevention of violence against women.

This year, support from the Ministry of Community Services alone for violence prevention and intervention totals well over $48 million – a 40 per cent increase over our spending in 2005.

That support means women and their children fleeing violence have access to the services and support they may need – in over 100 communities in B.C. and that 95 per cent of women  can find this support within an hour of their homes.

Women like Sadie, an older woman who, after years of abuse, found the strength she needed to flee from her abusive husband.

She connected with – and found the support she needed – in one of our provincially funded safe home programs for older women, in Victoria.

There she received counselling, to help her come to terms with her past – and find the inner strength to start a new and independent life, as well as help with the basics, like clothing and household goods and, I would note, because she was a senior, this was not an easy feat for her after decades of involvement in her relationship.

Now, Sadie volunteers her time giving back to other women overcoming abusive situations, so they too can build a brighter future.

These are the women we support through our current funding of direct essential services.

This year, our balanced budget allowed us to do even more, to increase our support to government-funded transition houses, ensuring their services and support are available 24/7, where necessary.

Yet, even with enhanced supports in place, we recognize there are situations where a woman in crisis may not know how to access the transition house or counselling supports available.

And so we’ve invested almost $3.6 million in outreach services – including multicultural outreach services in 20 languages – to connect women needing help with the supports that will make a real difference in their lives.

Is there more that can be done?

Of course, and we must see this as a shared responsibility.

We must continue to reach, not only women at risk, but all British Columbians with more information about the problem of violence against women.

We need people to fully understand the signs and impact of abuse, to help them recognize the signs in their own relationships or the relationships of others in their lives.

By making all British Columbians more aware of the problem of violence against women, of the supports available, and how we, as a society, can take steps to stop the abuse.

Some may simply not know where to start.

And so we’ve prepared a series of publications, under the overall theme of Help, Hope & Healing, aimed at getting that information out there – visibly – through community agencies and libraries.

You may have seen some of these materials in the Atrium near the registration desk today.

The Help, Hope and Healing series is aimed at helping people understand:

• How to recognize signs of abuse;

• How women can connect with the supports available;

• How to talk to men who may be abusing their partners; and

• How a woman can develop a plan for her own safety and that of her children.

These materials clearly emphasize our message – that violence against women is unacceptable.

We have the English versions with us today, but further to this, we will be distributing the material soon in Punjabi, Chinese, Farsi, Tagalog and Vietnamese. [Available online.]

Today is about discovering ways we can work together - talk to each other and learn from each other - to ensure our tomorrows will be different and women in B.C. feel safe in their homes and their communities.

I look forward to hearing the presenters today and the dialogue we’ll share on this topic of great importance to all of us.

Because beyond funding essential services for women, my ministry coordinates with other ministries throughout the provincial government and I, along with my colleagues across Canada – work to ensure that women's issues are highlighted and policy development is well informed.

This Congress is a great opportunity to gain more knowledge and hear a wide variety of views  and ultimately help us to work together to provide a safer future for women in British Columbia.

Thank you.