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Department of Justice
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA PROVIDES $20 MILLION TO STRENGTHEN THE ROLE OF VICTIMS IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
Ottawa, March 20, 2000 -- The Government of Canada will provide $20 million over the next four years for federal victim-related initiatives and programs. The Honourable Anne McLellan, Minister of Justice and Attorney
General of Canada, announced the funding in an address to a Canadian Police Association conference today.
The Government of Canada, and I as Minister of Justice, have made helping victims of crime a priority," Minister McLellan told delegates.
The money will go to the Policy Centre for Victims Issues, an office within the Department of Justice, mandated to develop and co-ordinate federal initiatives to strengthen the voice of victims in the criminal justice system. The creation of the
Policy Centre for Victims Issues followed the Government's Response to the December 1998 Report of the Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights, Victims' Rights -- A Voice, Not a
Veto.
The funding for the Policy Centre is a concrete expression of our collective efforts to ensure that the perspective of victims of crime is a cornerstone in the development of policies and legislation that touch their lives," said Minister
McLellan. "The work of the Policy Centre for Victims Issues will build on important milestones for victims of crime. Both the Standing Committee's Report and the changes to the Criminal Code which came into effect
last December showed Canadians the commitment of this government and the dedication and courage of individuals who worked to make the safety and security and privacy of victims of crime a priority."
The Government's Response to the Standing Committee's Report emphasized that initiatives supported by the federal government would seek to complement areas of provincial and territorial responsibility.
Changes to the Criminal Code in Bill C-79, brought into force on December 1, 1999 were a major step towards improving the situation of victims caught up in the criminal justice system. For example, the changes ensured that
victims will be informed about opportunities to prepare and read victim impact statements in court if they so choose. Police and judges are now required to consider the safety of victims in all bail decisions. Protections for victims and witnesses
participating in trials have been expanded, and judges are now permitted to ban the publication of the identity of victims and witnesses in appropriate circumstances. New provisions also require all offenders to pay an automatic victim surcharge (an
additional monetary penalty), which will increase revenue for provinces and territories to expand and improve victim services.
Among other things, the new funding announced today will help to:
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assist the Department of Justice in helping provinces and territories implement the December 1999 changes to the Criminal Code, for example, to make victims aware of their opportunities to submit victim impact statements and
to assist provinces and territories to collect the additional revenue generated by the new surcharge provisions for victim services;
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establish the Policy Centre as a focus point of expertise on legislation, policies, services and assistance to help victims of crime, through research on victims' need for information, services and assistance and by identifying successful new
approaches and initiatives;
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encourage joint federal, provincial and territorial initiatives through the existing Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Victims, including research and development of information about the role of victims;
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involve non-governmental victim advocates and service providers, in partnership with provincial and territorial authorities, to identify key concerns and to develop options and strategies to address these concerns;
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increase the Policy Centre's capacity to co-ordinate federal victims initiatives;
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support innovative programs and services, public education initiatives, conferences and research by non-governmental experts; and
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support and encourage specially-designed initiatives to help children, sexual assault victims and victims of family violence.
The work of the Policy Centre for Victims Issues is already well underway. In March, the Policy Centre launched its ongoing consultation process by hosting a Roundtable that brought together over 60 people, including 35 non-governmental victim
advocates, service providers and members of the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Working Group on Victims of Crime.
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Ref.
Catherine Kane
Policy Centre for Victims Issues
(613) 957-4690
Stephen Bindman
Minister's Office
(613) 992-4621
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