Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond: Domestic Violence

domestic violence: The 2008 murders of three children by their mentally father in Merritt, B.C., prompted the government to introduce the new action plan to tackle domestic violence. A report by children's representative Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond found the children in the Merritt case, aged five to 10, could have been saved if B.C. had an effective domestic violence prevention program, according to CTV. "But the community has always said there's more work to be done, and we agree there's more work to be done," she said. "The $5.5 million that we'll be adding is added to target specific areas of need within that plan." - The B.C. government is developing a domestic violence program that would include specific approaches to help aboriginal, immigrant, refugee and disabled women. Children's Minister Stephanie Cadieux said Wednesday that various anti-violence groups were consulted as part of a three-year plan to provide new and enhanced services for vulnerable women and kids. In response, the province established the Provincial Office of Domestic Violence in 2012 to co-ordinate government programs and develop the current comprehensive plan, Cadieux said. At the time, she said 20,000 people would be trained to spot and respond to domestic violence. On Wednesday, Cadieux said 18,000 people, including school personnel, police, and Children's Ministry staff have received the training. She said the government already spends $70 million a year on prevention and intervention programs dealing with domestic violence, including transition houses and victim services. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.