Mr. Speaker, this is in response to a question asked by Mr. Todd on November 19, with regard to services for victims of crime.
The Department of Justice has produced materials which will assist child and teen victims to understand victims' issues and the criminal justice system. We have also provided financial contributions to non-government organizations for various projects which assist victims of crime and family violence.
The department produced a booklet entitled "Sexual Assault: A Help Book for Teens in the N.W.T.", which will be distributed to all junior and senior high schools once we receive the user's guide presently being prepared by the Department of Education.
We will also be distributing an educational video to departments and agencies which provide victim services or child/teen witness preparation. This video, accompanied by the "Kids in Court" booklet, the teen sexual assault booklet and the user's guide, will assist children and young teens serving as witnesses in criminal justice cases.
The prosecution of offenders is a federal responsibility. This department urged the Department of Justice, Canada to hire victim/witness assistants in each of the Yellowknife and Iqaluit Crown offices. The victim/witness assistants help the Crown prosecutors communicate with victims and witnesses in communities and assist in trial preparation.
The department contributed $60,000 to the Y.W.C.A. in Yellowknife for a Victims' Services Program. This program provides support to victims of crime and, most recently, to the families and relatives of the Giant Mine tragedy. This pilot project will provide a model to other communities from which they can begin to develop their own victim services program.
We have also contributed $24,500 to the Hay River Women's Resource Centre for a conference on helping victims. The conference will be held in February, 1993. This conference will provide community care givers and facilitators from all regions of the north with the support, information and tools they need to better understand and meet the needs of victims.
The Victims of Crime Act, proclaimed in force in April, 1989, established the victims' assistance fund and provided for the appointment of a Victims' Assistance Committee.
Between November, 1989 and October 31 of this year, over $398,000 was disbursed from the victims' assistance fund to 128 recipients across the Northwest Territories for victim related activities in training, service delivery, public information and research. Members of this House have been informed as to the funding of recipients within their constituencies from information provided by the tabled annual reports of the committee.
I am pleased that the victims' assistance fund is becoming better known to non-governmental organizations and concerned citizens. The fund is generated by surcharges that people have to pay on fines. It does not, however, collect sufficient resources to support a company as a program for victim assistance across the territories. Community based and culturally relevant victims' services programs which provide crisis response, personal support and follow-up assistance to victims will enhance public awareness and understanding of the administration of justice. The department is currently looking at methods to assist communities with this objective. We also encourage communities wishing to start their own victims' services programs to approach the appropriate federal department for financial assistance. I am pleased that Members are taking an active interest in the advancement of services to victims of crime and family violence. I look forward to keeping you informed about the steps which are being taken in this area by the Department of Justice. Thank you.
