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Home   Newsroom 2005 News releases (archive) 2005-10-20: Financial assistance for victims to attend national parole board hearings and creation of a national office for victims
Ottawa, October 20, 2005 -- The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, and Irwin Cotler, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today announced details of new initiatives to support victims of crime. Victims will now be able to apply for financial assistance to attend the National Parole Board (NPB) hearings of the offender who harmed them. In addition, a new National Office for Victims has been established to provide information and support to victims. The new financial assistance program will be available to those victims who attend NPB hearings from November 1, 2005 and onward. Victims with hearings scheduled between now and the end of March 2006 have already been notified that they are eligible for this financial assistance. “The needs of victims - the need for a victim lens in the criminal justice system - is an ongoing principle and priority of the justice agenda. This is yet another initiative to address these needs through law reform, program measures with the provinces and territories as well as more direct assistance,” said Minister Cotler. The new financial assistance to attend NPB hearings covers travel, hotel and meal expenses, in accordance with current Government of Canada Travel Guidelines. In order to receive this financial assistance, victims must be registered with Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) or the NPB and must submit an application form to the Department of Justice. In addition, a new National Office for Victims has been established within the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness to better meet the needs of victims of offenders under federal responsibility. “This new funding will assist victims who wish to attend National Parole Board hearings in person, to make a statement or simply to be present to observe and be informed,” said Minister McLellan. “Also, the new National Office for Victims is another way that victims can access relevant information. Furthermore, this office will be able to address concerns and complaints victims of crime may have with regard to federal corrections, but it does not replace existing avenues for addressing complaints. These important issues were raised by my colleague Raymond Bonin (MP for Nickel Belt), and I wish to thank him again for his leadership and commitment,” added Minister McLellan. This office will be co-located with the Department of Justice’s Policy Centre for Victim Issues, which is mandated to coordinate federal initiatives for victims of crime and to ensure that their perspectives are considered in the development of policy and law reform. Victims will be able to reach the office by calling, toll-free,
1-866-525-0554 from anywhere in Canada and the United States. The financial assistance component of the Victims Fund, along with the creation of a new National Office for Victims and partnership with the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, is part of the Government’s continued commitment to supporting victims of crime. See also:
For further information: Alex Swann
Director of Communications
Office of the Deputy Prime Minister and
Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
(613) 991-2863 Media Relations Office
Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
(613) 991-0657 Denise Rudnicki
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of Justice
(613) 992-4621 Media Relations Office
Department of Justice Canada
(613) 957-4207
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