By Sheldon Spackman

Sending Support

County wants victims of crime funding maintained

Jun 23, 2020 | 2:58 PM

Red Deer County council has agreed to throw its support behind a local organization serving victims of crime or tragedy, and its concerns over the provincial government’s plans for Alberta’s victims of crime fund.

The Central Alberta Victim & Witness Support Society asked council on Tuesday to consider writing a letter of support with regards to the proposed Bill 16: the Victims of Crime (Strengthening Public Safety) Amendment Act.

According to government officials, Bill 16 aims to expand the scope of the Victims of Crime Fund to include public safety initiatives to deter crime and reduce victimization, such as Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT), the Rural Alberta Provincial Integrated Defence (RAPID) Force, drug treatment courts and hire more Crown prosecutors.

It’s also planned to replace financial benefits for injury and witness-to-homicide with an interim program to provide new areas of support while stakeholders provide input on the development of a new victim’s assistance model, among other changes.

However, the Central Alberta Victim & Witness Support Society says the amendments in the act will severely diminish the scope of financial benefits to victims of crime, and not enhance them.

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A petition launched by the Blackfalds-based organization claims the changes will also give the ministry access to the Victims of Crime Fund to pay for public safety initiatives such as additional policing, Crown prosecutors and drug courts.

It notes, however, that the Victims of Crime Fund is not made up of general revenue or taxpayers’ money, but money collected through victim fine surcharges administered upon conviction in provincial and criminal courts.

“Those funds should continue to fund victims and victim serving organizations, as it was intended, especially where funding is currently inadequate,” reads the petition. “We appreciate the need for more police officers, Crown prosecutors and drug courts but it should NOT be done at the expense of victims and with money that was collected for that exact purpose.”

Despite government claims they are seeking input from stakeholders and Albertans as they develop a new victim’s assistance program to launch in 2021, officials with Central Alberta Victim & Witness Support Society say no consultation has taken place with important stakeholders and experts in the field in relation to any other changes proposed in Bill 16.

“The UCP has proposed a working group of two MLAs who will consult with stakeholders but it is non-sensible to consult after the Act has already been changed,” the petition continues. “This will impact all Albertans because anyone can become a victim of crime at any point in time. Please help us in our effort to have Bill 16 delayed until meaningful consultation can be done with victims and stakeholders.”

Council unanimously approved the society’s request for a letter of support following a short discussion at their meeting on Tuesday. The letter is expected to call for sustainable operational funding for Victim Services as they consider it an essential element of the justice process.