Summary of types of compensation offered, by province
Type Of Compensation | BC | AB | MB | SK | ON | PQ | PE | NS | NB | NF | NT | NU | YK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Expenses reasonably and actually incurred as a result of the victim’s injury or death | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Loss of earnings due to victim’s total or partial disability to work | Yes | No | Yes | Yes (lost wages for parents/others to accompany victims to counselling sessions and medical appointments) | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Funeral or transportation costs | Yes, up to $3000 | Yes, up to $12,500 | Yes | Yes, up to $5000 where not covered by other programs | Yes | Yes, up to $3000 | Yes | No | Yes | No | Manager has discretion (some emergency transportation costs) | No | Manager has discretion (certain transportation costs |
Pain and suffering | No | No | No | No | No | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | No | No | No |
Support of a child born out of rape | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Other pecuniary loss that, in the opinion of the Board, the victim is likely to incur | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes | No | Yes |
Offences involving motor vehicle-related deaths | No | No (except in cases where the vehicle was deemed to have been intentionally used as a weapon) | No | Yes. Compensation is available to victims/survivors for the following offences: impaired driving causing bodily harm or death; blood alcohol level over legal limit while driving causing bodily harm or death; and failure or refusal to provide sample after driving causing bodily harm or death. Victims may be compensated for medical costs (such as ambulance and prescriptions not covered by another plan and dental, chiropractic and eyeglass costs); counselling, including traditional Aboriginal healing methods, while involved in the criminal justice system; funeral expenses to a maximum of $5,000 where not covered by other programs; loss of income where it is not covered by Employment Insurance, Workers’ Compensation or an insurance plan; and damage to or loss of clothing as a result of the crime. For more information or to access application forms, click here. For assistance with an application, contact your local victim services office. | No | No | Yes – Compensation is available for victims/survivors for the following offences: operating while impaired, failure or refusal to provide sample and impaired driving causing bodily harm or death. The maximum amount available for the injury or death of one person is $15,000 and the maximum for one criminal incident that results in multiple injuries or deaths is $30,000. Compensation may be awarded for disability affecting the victim’s capacity to work, pain and suffering, financial loss resulting from a victim’s death, etc. Compensation may be denied or reduced if victims are eligible for or receiving costs from other sources, including insurance. For more information on how to apply, you may contact Victim Services. | No | No | No | No | No | No |
Funding to travel to justice-related proceedings | Yes. Financial assistance under the BC Travel Fund is available to victims to attend and participate in justice related proceedings (not including parole hearings) that take place in BC and where they have to travel more than 100 km. Victims may be eligible for up to $3,000 for meals, accommodation, and travel. | No | No | No | Financial assistance is available under the Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund to help victims and survivors participate more fully in the criminal court process. Financial support may be available to help victims travel to attend court during key points in a criminal proceeding, provide vulnerable victims with interpretation services when they are observing a criminal proceeding and ensure victims with disabilities have appropriate supports, such as real-time captioning or other equipment. Victims can apply through their local Victim/Witness Assistance Program (V/WAP) which will determine eligibility on a case-by-case basis and help those who may qualify for assistance to apply. To find your local VWAP office, you may call the Victim Support Line toll-free at 1-888-579-2888 (or 416-314-2447 in the Toronto area). Ontario also has a fund to provide victims with financial assistance to attend provincial parole hearings in Ontario for offenders serving less than 2 years in jail in Ontario. For information relating to the fund, contact the Board Case Officer at the location nearest you by calling the Victim Support Line. | No | No | No | No | Yes, reduce travel and costs to attend a pre-court preparation meet/case meeting with a Crown. Funding is accessible to clients of the program who meet eligibility requirements. The Victim Services Regional Coordinator will work with victims to identify the need for specific services. The Regional Coordinator will make a request on the victim’s behalf to program management. For more information, please contact the local victim services office. | No | No | No |
Counselling | Yes | Yes, amount of financial assistance determined by the severity of injury. | Yes | Yes. Amendments to legislation in 2014-15 include: extending compensation for counselling to child victims of domestic violence, witnesses of homicide, and immediate family members in cases involving driving-related offences causing death. | Yes | Yes | No | Up to $2000 per family member | Yes, short-term counselling available if approved | No | No | No | Short-term immediate counselling |
Time To Process | Up to 9 months | 12-14 weeks | Up to 1 month | Up to 5 months | 3-10 days | Minimum of 3 weeks | Up to 2 years | Up to 1 month | – | Up to 5 days | Up to 48 hours | N/A | Up to 48 hours |