Backgrounder

For Immediate Release
March 2, 2007

The government of Ontario is committed to ensuring victims of violent crime have a strong voice. Government and community-based services support victims in the immediate aftermath of crime, throughout the criminal justice process and as they work to rebuild their lives.

In 2007–08 the Ministry of the Attorney General is investing more than $6 million to introduce three new, easy-to-access government programs that will respond quickly to ensure that victims of violent crime receive immediate, effective and compassionate assistance.

These include:

• An emergency expenses fund to ease financial hardships caused by expenses in the immediate aftermath of a criminal incident, such as child care or new locks/window repair. Two million dollars has been dedicated to this fund for 2007-08.
• A counselling program to provide victims of the most serious crimes, such as domestic violence and sexual assault, with professional counselling and support to help reduce trauma. The government is investing $4 million in this initiative over two years.
• Costs for funeral services will be provided to eligible families of homicide victims.

Two hundred fifty thousand dollars have been set aside for this program in 2007–08.

The ministry is also providing $14.75 million in additional funding to the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB) in 2007-08, to help it resolve outstanding applications:

• $12.75 million of this funding will be used to directly compensate victims of violent crime.
• $2 million will allow the CICB to hire additional adjudicators and staff to speed up the compensation process.

The ministry provides annual funding for the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, which was established in 1971 and operates at arm's length from the ministry. It was one of the first programs in the country to award financial compensation to victims of violent crimes. The board received an extra $5.23 million in 2006-07 to assist with claims-related costs.

In addition to victim compensation provided by the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board, the ministry also provides many other supports and services to victims, and funds a broad range of victim service programs across the province:

• The Victim/Witness Assistance Program, a cornerstone of services provided to victims of violent crime, is celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2007. This program receives $16 million annually in funding and helped more than 66,000 Ontarians last year. It provides information, assistance, referrals and support to victims and witnesses of crime throughout the criminal court process, in all 54 court districts across the province. Client surveys consistently show that over 90 per cent of clients are satisfied with the services of this program, which maintains close contact with local community agencies to ensure victims can access the full range of services they need.
• The Victim Crisis Assistance & Referral Services, a community-response program, provides immediate on-site service to victims of crime or disaster, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The government invests more than $6 million per year in this program, which operates in 41 communities across Ontario, and served more than 68,000 victims provincewide last year alone.
• The Domestic Violence Court Program provides victims of domestic violence with support from specially trained Crown attorneys, Victim/Witness Assistance Program staff, police, Partner Assault Response programs, language interpreters and other service providers. The government invests $22 million per year in this program, which had been expanded to all 54 court districts by the end of 2006. It is the most comprehensive program of its kind in Canada.
• A dedicated 12-member victim-witness assistance team is now in place as part of the McGuinty government's $51 million package of initiatives to fight gun and gang-related crime. This team works with the Guns and Gangs Task Force to help address the unique needs and circumstances of victims and witnesses of gun violence.
• The province is committing $15 million over three years to the Community Grant Program. This program funds time-limited projects across Ontario that address gaps in supports and services to victims. All projects must directly benefit victims to be eligible for funding. Sixty-nine projects across the province are being funded by the program in 2006-07.
• The province invests $13 million per year in Ontario's 38 Sexual Assault/Rape Crisis Centres, currently operating in 30 communities.
• The Bail Safety Pilot Project, in 10 Ontario locations, provides for specially trained teams of Crown counsel, victim services staff and police to conduct in-depth interviews with victims of domestic violence at the bail stage, because this is a time of high risk for victims. The project is receiving approximately $11 million over three years to help identify high-risk situations, allowing Crown attorneys to make better recommendations at bail hearings, to help stop the cycle of violence.
• A $5 million Internet child anti-pornography and anti-luring strategy is being implemented to offer support to victims and refer them to appropriate community services. It includes:
  • an undercover team of municipal police officers working online to identify suspects and victims, and prevent further victimization
  • dedicated Crown prosecutors to ensure a uniform level of excellence with respect to victim support and prosecution
  • victim support to ensure that identified victims are connected with the specialized services they need.
• The government established the Hate Crimes Community Working Group, which tabled more than 80 recommendations aimed at improved services to victims of hate crimes and preventing further victimization. An inter-ministerial team has been struck to consider the recommendations and plan the investment of $1.3 million to help strengthen Ontario communities by taking action against hate crimes.
• A northern victim services expansion project receives annual funding of more than $1.5 million to provide programs and services for victims of crime, suited to the local needs of victims in five northern communities - Kapuskasing, Greenstone, Michipicoten, Marathon/Manitouwadge and Fort Frances.
• The Nishnawbe Aski Nation is receiving more than $700,000 over three years to provide services to male victims in northern Aboriginal communities who have suffered sexual abuse.
• The Victim Support Line is a free provincewide information line providing services in English and French. This program provides services including referrals to community agencies, information on the criminal justice system and access to information about the status and scheduled release date of provincially incarcerated offenders.
• The Barbra Schlifer Commemorative Clinic is a multi-service agency for female victims of violence. The Ministry of the Attorney General funds a specialized legal service for assaulted women at the clinic.
• The SupportLink Program provides victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking with intensive safety planning and 911-programmed cell phones in 20 Ontario locations.
• Child Victim/Witness Centres in three Ontario communities offer court assistance to thousands of children who are victims or witnesses of violent crime each year.

Other McGuinty government initiatives to help victims and to prevent victimization include the following:

• Committing $5.9 million to train front-line workers, professionals, neighbours, friends and families across Ontario to recognize the signs of abuse, and help women and children get the supports they need
• Developing CYBERCOPS software for Grade 7 and 8 students in Ontario schools, to help cyber-proof children against cyber-stalking, child pornography and Internet luring
• Investing $4 million over two years in the Employment Training Pilot Program to help women who are victims of domestic violence, or at risk, develop new skills, find employment and achieve economic independence.

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