VICTORIA—  B.C. Liberals continue to ignore the needs of women in rural and northern B.C. by refusing to bring in safe, affordable transportation options along the Highway of Tears, and by leaving northern communities out of their domestic violence programs.

“Bringing in a shuttle bus along the Highway of Tears was one of two most urgent recommendations from the Missing Women’s Inquiry,” said Jennifer Rice, the New Democrat MLA for North Coast. “Yet again, the B.C. Liberals missed an opportunity to take action and give women and girls along Highway 16 real options besides hitchhiking.”

Rice noted that none of the $845,000 in one-time funding announced on Thursday to support Missing Women’s Inquiry recommendations was directly aimed at ending disappearances along the Highway of Tears. Similarly, none of the Domestic Violence Units announced by the government are in rural communities.

“It could be argued that women in small, northern, and rural communities are even more in need of action on domestic violence than those in urban centres where there are more supports and services,” said New Democrat women’s critic Maurine Karagianis.

“While it’s good to see enhanced action on domestic violence in the lower mainland, the capital region and other urban centres, women in northern and rural communities shouldn’t be left standing on the side of the highway by the B.C. Liberals.”