Backgrounder: Funding for the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador

Through its Victims Fund, the Department of Justice Canada will provide the Public Legal Information Association of Newfoundland and Labrador (PLIAN) with $50,000 for the project "Reaching out to Victims of Violence: Using Webinars to Provide Legal Information to Service Providers." The funding will specifically assist PLIAN in developing webinar presentations for service providers in rural and remote areas of the province and to provide information on obtaining emergency protection orders and peace bonds for victims of violence.

Federal Victims Strategy / Victims Fund

As part of the Economic Action Plan, Budget 2011 extended the Federal Victims Strategy by announcing funding of $26 million over two years. The Strategy is led by the Department of Justice Canada. Working in collaboration with other federal departments to ensure a consistent approach to victim issues, the Department consults with victims, victim advocates, and service providers and others involved in the criminal justice system to identify issues of concern and to facilitate policy development and criminal law reform.

The Victims Fund is a grants and contributions program administered by the Department of Justice. The Fund currently has $10.2 million a year available to give victims of crime a more effective voice in the criminal justice system.

The objectives of the Victims Fund are to:

• promote access to justice and participation by victims in the justice system;
• promote the development of law, policies and programs for victims;
• promote the implementation of principles, guidelines and laws designed to address the needs of victims of crime and articulate the victim's role in the criminal justice system;
• increase knowledge and awareness of the impact of victimization, the needs of victims of crime, available services, assistance and programs, and relevant legislation;
• encourage governmental and non-governmental organizations to identify victim needs and gaps in services, and develop and deliver programs, services and assistance to victims;
• promote capacity building within non-governmental organizations; and to
• provide direct, limited, emergency financial assistance to individual victims in certain specified circumstances.

More information is available on the Department of Justice Canada's website.

Department of Justice Canada
February 2012