Someone needed to tell Premier Campbell that it gave the joke away when he ended the staged cabinet meeting on January 26th by saying that the real meeting would resume behind closed doors in the cabinet room. That staged cabinet session was more painful than usual to watch, "meeting" being too generous a word for what took place. Those who missed it can watch a re-broadcast or catch it on streaming video from the government's website.

Wendy McMahon, Minister of State for Women's and Senior's Services, carefully read every word of her presentation, occasionally appearing to lose her place. In a show reminiscent of a tag team wrestling match she called on other ministers to read their part of the skit and say what services they provide to women. She finally concluded with her announcement (pretend request for "decision") that $12.5 million per year for three years will be provided to various programs aimed at stopping violence against women. Transition houses will receive the largest boost, with an increase of $5.1 million per year. The funding will be welcome as it will help restore loses from previous rounds of government cuts. The Campbell government stresses that it "preserved" funding for transition houses, i.e. did not cut, while it eliminated other services.

Women's centres lost all their government funding this year. The 2004-05 budget for "women's services and seniors" was cut to $37.346 million from $51.616 million in 2003-04; the budget for child care services was also cut to $172.777 million from $184.112 million. Women's services, not including seniors, was budgeted for $55.144 million in 2001-02. In four years, the Campbell government cut about $18 million from the annual budget for women's services. It is good that $12.5 million may be restored, but when will women who are victims of violence see the services?

Joyce Murray was one of the few to ask McMahon what appeared to be an unscripted question when she asked what the process would be for current service providers to bid on new projects. Murray noted that services will be created from the money only after a request-for-proposals process is complete. In other words, keep your eye on the BC Bid website in order to submit a proposal. Murray said that many people who work with women who are victims of violence have excellent skills for their job, but lack skills at completing the requests-for-proposals required by government. McMahon responded that her staff might have to provide some training to potential applicants. That means that the full $12.5 million is unlikely to be spent this year, or if it is, it will happen so late that on an annualized basis it will take more than $12.5 million in the second and third years in order to maintain the same level of service. Details like those really aren't important to a government in pre-election mode, focused on news releases rather than service delivery. It can always change its mind and cut the budget should they be returned with a majority.