Lifetime ban from legislature mean and vindictive - www.bcgeu.org

The B.C. Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU) is demanding the Campbell Liberals lift the lifetime ban from the B.C. legislature imposed on the five women arrested in March for trying to secure funding for the province's 37 women's centres.

"This is nothing short of mean and vindictive," said George Heyman, BCGEU president.

"There is absolutely no reason why these women should be banned from the legislature. They are not a threat to anyone. All charges against them have been dropped. They did nothing wrong, and should have access to the legislature the same as any other British Columbian."

Heyman said the five women's centres coalition representatives, who were at the legislature March 12 for a meeting with Minister Ida Chong, should never have been arrested in the first place, let alone handcuffed, hauled away in paddy wagons, fingerprinted, and thrown into jail.

"This over-the-top, knee-jerk reaction is indicative of how the Campbell Liberals treat legitimate interest groups, in this case women, who disagree with their regressive, ideologically driven agenda of cuts to vital services for the most needy and vulnerable people in our society," Heyman said.

"The government's message here is 'if you dare to criticize what we do, you'll be sorry'."

Heyman demanded Premier Campbell immediately revoke the ban. "Even Gordon Campbell -- who thinks his government can do anything it wants, and does -- can't ignore the rights of citizens in a free society, including the right to advocate for others and to have access to our legislators.

"These five women were trying to save women's centres for the hundreds of thousands of women in B.C. living in poverty or violent relationships who rely on this community lifeline. All they got in return from this government was jail. The Campbell Liberals have already closed the door on women in our province. Now, they want to close the legislature."

The government cut $1.7 million in annual core funding for B.C.'s 37 women's centres on April 1. Since then, at least half of the centres have either closed, or cut back on hours of operation and staff. Most will be forced to close over the coming weeks.

Women's centres provide a wide range of services, including information and referrals, support groups, crisis counselling, job entry programs, legal aid workshops, child care
services, housing registries, stopping violence against women programs, clothing exchanges,
food programs, and advocacy.