Advocacy win: Province reverses changes to Victims of Crime Fund and supports

Two years ago, the Government of Alberta passed legislation that expanded the scope of the Victims of Crime Fund to include public safety initiatives, making Alberta the only province that did not restrict the use of its Victims of Crime fund to supporting victims. Justice and Solicitor General also replaced financial benefits for victims with an interim program while a new victims’ assistance model was developed. According to the Ministry’s 2021-22 annual report, 59% of the $64.7 million spent from the Victims of Crime fund went toward public safety initiatives. About one-third, or $21 million, was allocated to victim services organizations. Only 8.5%, or $5.5 million, went directly to victims. 

Alberta Municipalities strongly opposed these changes and worked with the Alberta Police-Based Victim Services Association to launch an MLA letter writing campaign, calling on the province to reverse its changes to the Victims of Crime Fund and provide ongoing, sustainable funding to victim services programs.

On July 19, 2022, the Minister of Justice and Solicitor General announced that the Victims of Crime Fund will again be used entirely for helping victims recover from their physical and psychological injuries and supporting them through the court process. The province is also expanding supports and providing emergency assistance when required.

The new victim assistance program, launching September 1, 2022, will:

• Give victims quick access to emergency financial assistance, such as emergency support for domestic violence victims and relocation assistance for human trafficking victims.
• Increase the 45-day limit on applications to two years.
• Increase counselling services to $12,000.
• Provide extended medical health benefits to victims with serious injuries.
• Provide additional financial supports to victims with severe injuries.
• Provide victims with court attendance reimbursement.
• Reimburse families of homicide victims for funeral expenses.

To ensure victims have consistent access to services across Alberta, program delivery is shifting to a four-zone model, which aligns with RCMP districts. The government is dissolving 62 police-based victim services units across Alberta and creating four new regional boards representing the east, west, south, and central areas of the province. Each board will have administrative support staff which will give case workers more time to support victims.

ABmunis is very pleased to see these changes and we thank all our members who supported our advocacy on this topic!