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Backgrounder: The Victims Fund

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 and federal corrections systems.

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

In fulfilling its commitment to victims of crime, the Government of Canada pro­vides funding to improve the experience of victims in the criminal justice system and ensure support and services are avail­able when needed. The Victims Fund, co-managed by the Policy Centre for Victim Issues and Programs Branch at the Department of Justice Canada, supports community groups, non-governmental organizations, provincial and territorial governments, and in certain cases, victims of crime.

Funding Envelopes

There are three components of the Victims Fund: Provincial and Territorial Implementation; Projects and Activities; and Financial Assistance

Provincial and Territorial Implementation

The provinces and territories, who are responsible for delivering the majority of victim services, are eligible for funding to encourage implementation of federal and provincial/territorial legislation for victims of crime. This includes support for: improving victim service worker ca­pacity to meet gaps in services to victims; providing financial assistance to victims to attend sentencing hearings to present a victim impact statement; and enhancing or expanding services to currently under­served victims.

Projects and Activities

Governmental and non-governmental organizations are eligible to receive funding for projects and activities that encourage the development of new ap­proaches, promote access to justice for victims of crime, improve the capacity of victims service providers, establish referral networks and increase awareness of services available. Under the Projects and Activities component, funding is also made available to support community based activities commemorating National Victims of Crime Awareness Week.

Financial Assistance

Under the Victims Fund, financial assis­tance is made available to victims of crime under specific circumstances:

• limited emergency financial assistance to Canadian victims or family members in excep­tional circumstances where no other source of funding is available.
• limited financial assistance to Canadi­ans who are victims of serious violent crime abroad and may incur unantici­pated or exceptional expenses result­ing from their victimization where no other source of funding is available.
• to defray the travel costs of registered victims and a support person who wish to attend National Parole Board hearings of offenders under federal supervision who harmed them.

For more information on the Victims Fund: http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/pi/pb-dgp/prog/vf-fv.html

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May 2009