As of November 1, 2005, victims of crime in Canada will now be able to apply for financial assistance to attend the Parole Board of Canada hearings of the offender who harmed them. In addition, a new National Office for Victims has been established to provide information and support to victims. The CRCVC pushed for … Read more
Amidst parliamentary chaos in May 2000, the CRCVC, along with the help of three women who have suffered incredible loss, successfully pushed Bill C-13 through the House of Commons and the Senate. The amendments to the legislation will allow courts to make DNA data bank orders for a much wider range of offences – potentially, … Read more
The CRCVC has voiced the need for an expansion of the type of information provided to victims of offenders serving federal sentences. Information about programming (or lack thereof) will allow victims to better judge the risk an offender may still present to them if any. Advance notifications of transfers, reasons behind transfers, and access to … Read more
On April 23, 2007, former CRCVC President Steve Sullivan was named Canada’s first Ombudsman for crime victims, a position and office the CRCVC long called for. The Ombudsman is responsible for helping victims tap into existing federal programs for crime victims, promote the needs of victims within the justice system and government, review complaints and … Read more
Following interventions with a number of Canadians impacted by terrorism and mass violence outside of Canada, CRCVC voiced the need to develop specialized consular training to better serve crime victims and create a program at the federal level to provide financial assistance to Canadians who are victimized outside of Canada. On April 1, 2007, a … Read more
The CRCVC has been involved in work to bring about numerous recent pieces of legislation in Canada, including: Amendments to the CCRA under The Safe Streets and Communities Act including enshrining victim participation in conditional release board hearings, and keeping victims better informed about the behaviour and handling of offenders; Federal income support for parents … Read more
