For the current fiscal year $76,634.11 has been collected through the victims of a crime surcharge, as of December, 1997. In 1996-97 the amount collected was $105,936.75 and for 1995-96 it was $98,176.45. In January, 1996, there was a one- time contribution from the GNWT of $300,000 to the Victim Assistance Fund.

The Victims of Crime Act of the Northwest Territories establishes the Victims Assistance Fund and provides for the appointment of a victim's assistance committee. The committee is appointed for three-year terms to make recommendations to the Minister of Justice on policies regarding the needs and concerns of victims of crime, and on the distribution of the Victims Assistance Fund. Funding is available for short-term, community-based projects and activities which directly support or benefit victims of crime through: training; direct services; public awareness and information; and/or research. At monthly teleconference meetings the victim's assistance committee reviews submitted proposals from agencies and individuals and makes recommendations to the Minister on disbursements from the Victims Assistance Fund. The Minister of Justice makes all the final decisions about disbursements from the fund. The committee receives administrative and executive support from a half-time departmental staff person. This person also works with victim initiatives sponsored directly by the department's community justice division.

The victim's assistance committee's annual reports for 1995-96 and 1996-97 are now being printed and, when received, will be tabled before the Legislative Assembly. To date, in the 1997-98 fiscal year, a total of $139,133 has been disbursed from the Victims Assistance Fund. A list of those disbursements will be provided to the Member for Hay River. The Victims Assistance Fund is a revolving fund. Any monies remaining at the end of one fiscal year are automatically transferred to the next fiscal year. The Department of Justice is committed to the continued funding of victim support programs. Main estimates show funding for victims services for the 1998-99 fiscal year to remain at the same level as in the previous fiscal year.

During the 1997-98 fiscal year, the Department of Justice, through its community's justice budget, committed $200,000 toward community-based victim services projects in Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, Fort Smith and Yellowknife and to victim support services for the people impacted by the Grollier Hall investigation. In addition, activities and/or services related to both victims and offenders were included under its $1.1 million in contributions to communities for community justice committees.