Hon. Gordon Campbell, Premier
Room 156, Parliament Buildings
Victoria, BC, V8V 1X4
June 19, 2009
Dear Premier Campbell,
I am writing this letter to protest the lack of provincial funding for the Mobile Access Project van, a mobile outreach operated jointly by PACE and WISH Outreach Society.
The MAP van, which was shut down June 12 due to lack of funding, provided an essential service for street level sex trade workers, dispensing condoms, first aid supplies, and clean needles to women every night between 10:30 pm and 5:30 am.
Perhaps one of the most important roles the van served was to allow sex trade workers to report and receive information about ‘bad dates’ – clients who are potentially violent or dangerous. The van also offered counselling and referrals to health care and shelter services.
As you are no doubt aware, street level sex trade workers in Vancouver are still subject to unacceptable levels of violence and exploitation. The MAP van was one of the few services available to assist the most vulnerable sex trade workers where they worked.
I respectfully request that funding to the MAP van be restored immediately.
Regards,
Shane Simpson, MLA
Vancouver-Hastings
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