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THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES

OTTAWA, April 14, 2008 - Today, Rob Moore, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, launched the 3rd Annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.

 “Our Government believes that Canada’s justice system can do more to better meet the needs of victims,” said Minister Nicholson.  “The Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime as well as continued government funding will help ensure that the needs of victims are properly addressed.”

In April 2007, the Federal Government committed $52 million over four years to increase the availability of services for victims of crime. That money continues to expand the resources available to victims who choose to attend parole hearings, who experience crime while abroad, and who live in northern communities.

Furthermore, the appointment last year of the first Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime also fulfilled this Government’s long-standing commitment to better meet the needs of victims of crime in matters of federal jurisdiction. 

“We want to ensure that we have an effective criminal justice system, a system in which victims have a strong voice,” said Minister Day. “This is why our government is determined to take decisive steps to reform our corrections system with a view to holding offenders accountable for their actions and rebalancing the rights of victims versus those of offenders.”

The 3rd Annual National Victims of Crime Awareness Week takes place from April 13 to 19.  During the week, communities across Canada organize events to commemorate coming together to support victims of crime. Many of these events are made possible by Victims Fund grants, administered by the Department of Justice Canada.

The Government of Canada also hosted a symposium with over 150 victims’ advocates, service providers and others in attendance to listen to the experiences of victims and learn how governments, service providers and volunteers are working together to support victims of crime.  The symposium included a keynote address by former NHL Hockey player and sexual assault survivor, Sheldon Kennedy.

National Victims of Crime Awareness Week is organized by the Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice Canada, the National Office for Victims within Public Safety Canada and a national organizing committee comprised of victims, representatives from government and non-governmental victim-serving organizations, and victim services providers.

Further information can be found on the following websites:

• National Victims of Crime Awareness Week www.victimsweek.gc.ca

• Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice Canada: www.justice.gc.ca/en/ps/voc/index.html

• National Office for Victims of Crime at the Department of Public Safety: www.publicsafety.gc.ca/

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Ref.:

• Darren Eke
  Press Secretary
  Office of the Minister of Justice
  613-992-4621

• Media Relations
  Department of Justice Canada
  613-957-4207

• Mélisa Leclerc
  Director of Communications
  Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day
  Minister of Public Safety
  613-991-2863

• Media Relations
  Public Safety Canada
  613-991-0657