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Backgrounder: Overview of Federal Government Support to Victims of Crime

The Government of Canada has committed $52 million for a package ($13 million per year over four years starting April 1, 2007) of programs, services and funding to help the federal government and the provinces and territories respond to a variety of needs facing victims of crime across the continuum of the justice system and federal corrections.

Addressing the needs of victims of crime in Canada is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments.  For the most part, delivery of victim services is undertaken by the provinces and territories as they have responsibility for the administration of justice. A large portion of the new monies is available to the provinces and territories through grants and contributions.

Overview of funding

The general overview of the $13 million per year is as follows:  

 

 

The Department of Justice

The Policy Centre for Victim Issues at the Department of Justice Canada is mandated to work toward improving the experience of victims of crime in the criminal justice system by engaging in legislative reform, consultation, policy development, research, and project funding.

Victims Fund

The Victims Fund, which is a grants and contributions mechanism administered by the Policy Centre for Victim Issues, have been boosted by $5.75 million per year (the past Victims Fund budget was $2 million/year). The provinces and territories, who are responsible for the majority of victim services, are the primary recipients ($3.8 million) for specific objectives including to provide financial assistance to victims to attend sentencing hearings to present a victim impact statement in the province or territory, to enhance or expand services to currently underserved victims, and for the territories to provide emergency services to meet the gaps in service and assistance that may exist for victims.
The remainder of the Victims Fund (approximately $1.95 million) is available for additional projects including limited emergency financial assistance for Canadians victimized abroad, a special project component that non-governmental organizations and provinces/territories can access for innovative new projects to help improve the experience of victims of crime in the justice and corrections systems, as well as a financial assistance component to provide travel assistance for a support person to accompany victims to parole board hearings.

To help commemorate National Victims of Crime Awareness Week 2008, up to $5,000 per project was provided through the Victims Fund to those projects that advance the goals of the Week. With this assistance from the Victims Fund, organizations and governments are hosting events, training sessions and awareness raising campaigns. (See listing of funded events for the 2008 National Victims of Crime Awareness Week)

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Department of Justice Canada
April 2008