Courtesy of the Government of Canada (news.gc.ca)

The Government of Canada recognizes the importance of support services for victims of crime in helping to ensure that the justice system is fair, efficient and accessible to all Canadians.

Today, the Honourable Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced funding of $3,411,450 over five years to enhance and support services to victims and survivors of crime in British Columbia.

The British Columbia Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General will use the funding for projects that help advance services and access to justice for victims and their families. The projects will improve services to family members of homicide victims, child victims, victims of domestic violence, victims in remote communities and Aboriginal communities. The funding will also provide training to victim service providers and criminal justice personnel so they can respond more effectively to the specific needs of victims of crime.

The funding is available through the Victims Fund, which supports projects that encourage new approaches, promote access to justice, help service providers work more effectively, and make victims of crime and their families more aware of the services available to them.

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Quick Facts

• This funding will be used by the Province of British Columbia to:
  • provide enhanced information, supports and services to family members of homicide victims;
  • implement responsive victim services in four remote and/or First Nations communities in British Columbia;
  • establish provincial networks for Child Advocacy Centres and for Domestic Violence Units;
  • provide multi-disciplinary trauma-informed practice training, education and awareness curriculum for the justice and public safety sector, in response to recommendations from British Columbia’s Fifth Justice Summit;
  • develop training initiatives to strengthen the knowledge and capacity of victim service workers and other front-line service providers working with victims of crime in British Columbia; and
  • undertake various activities and training to support the implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, including the provision of new testimonial accommodations.

Quotes

Jody Wilson-Raybould, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada - 

“Responding to the needs of victims and their families helps reduce the devastating consequences of crime not only for victims but for society at large. It is important that all levels of government work together to ensure that victims of crime have the services they need and can access the justice system.”

Mike Morris, Minister of Justice of Public Safety and Solicitor General - 

“This funding from the Government of Canada supports B.C.’s work to enhance services for victims of crime in British Columbia, improve access to justice, and further support the implementation of the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights in our province. With a five-year funding commitment now in place, service providers working with victims of crime can access targeted education and training opportunities ensuring we have a responsive system of supports in British Columbia. This investment will also help programs throughout the province that support safe families and build safe B.C. communities.”

Suzanne Anton, Attorney General and Minister of Justice - 

“The federal government’s support of trauma-informed training, education and awareness for the justice and public safety sector will help to ensure that the needs of victims of violent crimes – and the witnesses to such crimes – are met. This training initiative is a direct outcome of B.C.’s Justice Summits, which promote innovation and collaboration across the sector, and will go a long way to enhancing access to justice.”