Today's announcement that BC Transit has agreed to submit to requests for independent review is a far cry from what the transportation announcement should have been - namely, the creation of a community-to-community bus system for the Highway of Tears.
This region has been neglected to a criminal extent when it comes to rural transportation. We say "criminal" because the disregard has placed, and is still placing, women in vulnerable and dangerous situations.
Underprivileged women are being served on a platter to predatory maniacs because they're forced to hitchhike to earn money, visit family, or have a social life.
Subsidizing a system that would link the Prince George to Prince Rupert corridor can no longer be seen as a luxury. It's become a question of life and death - there's no question a rural transportation system could have saved lives had one been in place over the past few decades.
Five years ago a symposium was held to examine the Highway of Tears and determine ways to stop the killing and disappearance of women.
It's difficult to swallow the fact that we live in a region where a direct correlation has been made between violence and a lack of accessible transportation, and yet there hasn't even been a business case put forward for what such a system would look like or cost.
Ask the province and they pass the buck, saying all the affected communities need to get together to move this forward. Ask the communities and they pass the buck to the province.
What becomes quite clear is that the political will to keep women of "high risk lifestyles" safe in this region is just not there. It's the same mentality that kept Robert Pickton murdering for years, despite ever-growing suspicions over what was going on at his pig farm.
And just as the disgraceful conduct of those who turned a blind eye in the Pickton case is coming to light, in years to come, those empowered to help women travel the Highway of Tears safely today, yet not making it their mission, will be held accountable in the future.
-- Prince George Citizen
