Canada's government continues to take stronger action to protect victims and survivors of crime through legislative reform and funding to support the provision of services to victims of crime. The Protecting Victims Act is one of the most consequential reforms of the Criminal Code in a generation to help stop intimate partner violence and femicide, and keep our kids safe from predators.
Today, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, highlighted approximately $50 million annually to support victims and survivors of crime across the country.
To increase access to justice for victims and survivors in Ontario and to give them a more effective voice within the criminal justice system, several other projects are being funded through the Victims Fund, including:
- Child Advocacy Centres and Child and Youth Advocacy Centres
- Supports and Services for Victims and Survivors of Human Trafficking
- Family Information Liaison Units
- Community Support and Healing for Families
- Supporting Indigenous Victims of Crime
- Sexual Assault
- Restorative Justice
- Hate Crimes
- Canada's Black Justice Strategy
Included as part of these investments to provinces and territories is $3.375 million for Ontario over five years (2026-2031) to enhance and support services for victims in that province.
These projects are funded by annual project-based funding provided by the Government of Canada through the Victims Fund. This funding supports projects and activities that encourage the development of new approaches, promote access to justice, improve the capacity of service providers, foster referral networks, and increase awareness of services available to victims of crime and their families.
Lastly, as part of Victims and Survivors of Crime Week which took place from May 10 to 16, more than $1 million was provided to 149 organizations throughout Canada to support local events, workshops, and activities.
Collectively, these actions build on what victims, survivors, and their loved ones have told us directly: too many have been left carrying the weight of a system that asked too much of them when they needed support the most.
