VICTIM FUNDS FOR INITIATIVES IN QUEBEC

St. Adèle, May 23, 2001 - Today, Ms. Carole-Marie Allard, MP for Laval East, on behalf of the Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, announced that the Government of Canada has awarded $51,535 to two victims initiatives in Quebec. The funding was provided through the Department of Justice's Victim Fund, as part of a federal initiative to increase the confidence of victims of crime in the criminal justice system.

"We are committed to giving victims a voice in the criminal justice system that is listened to and respected," said Ms. Allard. "The funding provided to these initiatives in Quebec will promote discussion on victims' issues among those who work in the justice system as well as raise awareness about victims' needs and how to meet them."

The Victim Fund has provided:

• $15,000 to the Société de criminologie du Québec to support their thirtieth Congress, which is being held from May 23 to 25 in St. Adèle, Quebec; and
• $36,535 to Regroupement d'étudiants: prévention et intervention touchant la santé-sexualité de l'Université du Québec à Montréal (REPITSS-UQAM) to develop videos to provide assistance to victims of domestic violence, particularly those in same-sex relationships.

The funding for these projects has been provided through the Victim Fund administered by the Department of Justice's Policy Centre for Victim Issues. In August 2000, $10 million over a five year period was made available for initiatives that would help the provinces and territories implement legislation for victims of crime, support innovative pilot projects to help victims of crime, particularly in rural areas, and provide limited emergency financial assistance to assist victims of crime and their families.

To find out more about the Policy Centre for Victim Issues and the Victim Fund, visit http://canada.justice.gc.ca.

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Ref:

Farah Mohamed
Minister McLellan's Office
(613) 992-4621

Jeanette Rule
Policy Centre for Victim Issues
(613) 952-1109