MLA Rice calls attention to 16 Days of activism against Gender Based violence

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice used her time in the Legislature on Monday morning to raise awareness of a United Nations led initiative on Gender Violence, as well as to highlight the work of the NDP government towards that issue.

Speaking remotely to the Chamber, Ms. Rice's presentation followed up on an MLA's motion and highlighted a range of initiatives that have been implemented towards Gender Based Violence.

"We know that just two days ago, on November 25, was a United Nations–recognized Day For the Elimination Of Violence Against Women and it's the beginning or the start of the 16 Days Of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. 

I wanted to just talk about the fact that we know — and I think we all agree in this House, from all parties — that everyone should feel safe, and they should feel secure in their home and in their community. 

However, gender-based and sexualized violence too often impacts women, girls, two-spirit, transgender, non-binary and other gender-diverse people, with devastating and long-lasting effects —and, as the member prior just mentioned, perhaps disproportionately to those in our rural communities. 

So it's for this reason that we are working together to help address gender-based violence and ensure survivors can access the care that they need. And while it is really unfortunate that I cannot mention an MLA's name in this House, I will say that the NDP MLA for gender-based violence, or the parliamentary secretary — my sincere apologies…. 

I think she's done a phenomenal job, looking at the list of actions that our government has taken, and I just wanted to offer my strong kudos to her for the work that she has done. And I know she'll be humble and say that the path was led by previous colleagues, but she's really bringing things home."

Ms. Rice also used the opportunity of the time in the Monday session to outline some of the services available province wide.

I wanted to actually talk about some of the services provided in the north coast. But unfortunately, there are so many more than I knew and expected that that would take up the entire five minutes that I'm allocated for today's motion. 

I will list them later on in my social media. 

Some of the things that we've been working on, led by our parliamentary secretary for ending gender-based violence, are that we've provided $20 million in grant funding to support the delivery of emergency sexual assault services in regions all over this province, including rural communities, and stable funding to support more than 475 victim services and violence against women programs across this province. 

This includes $10 million annually to provide stable funding for 70 sexual assault services programs, beginning this year; five newly announced centres to be located across the province — once again, in the north, Interior and the Lower Mainland — that will provide wraparound services to survivors of sexual assault during a time when support and compassion is most needed.

The MLA also noted some of the policy standards that the BC NDP have put in place during their time in government.

As she noted in her presentation to the Legislature, at some point the future, she will be providing the list of services available on the North Coast through her social media stream, you can access that information portal here.

You can review her full presentation through the Legislature Hansard and view it through the Legislature chamber video archive starting at the 11:15 mark of the morning session.

More notes on the work of the North Coast MLA in Victoria can be reviewed from our archive page.