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TIP SHEETS -
NEWS - LINKS
There is a compensation system in Ontario
funded by government that can provide financial assistance to victims of
crime. At the clinic, we assist survivors of domestic violence and
sexual or childhood abuse to file applications for assistance.
Offenders may also be
sued in civil courts. There are time limitations that apply and you
should always get legal advice from the private bar lawyers in our
community if you wish to sue the offender. In some circumstances, legal
aid certificates can be issued for this type of law suit. Clinic staff
do not do this kind of work.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
- viewable online or
(65 kb, 7 pgs)
February 15, 2008
Compensation Review Poses Changes to CICB
Could Victims Lose Their Voice?
Ontario’s system for compensating victims of crime is
currently under review by the Honourable R. Roy McMurtry, retired Chief
Justice of Ontario. The Review is considering the feasibility of
switching to an expense-based compensation system where victims of crime
would be compensated for out-of-pocket expenses, rather than awards for
pain and suffering.
Deirdre McDade, staff lawyer with the Community Advocacy
and Legal Centre, has expressed her concern regarding these possible
changes with a written submission to the McMurtry Victim Compensation
Review.
View our
Press
Release.
Visit
http://www.mcmurtryvictimcompensationreview.ca/ to read more about
the review.
April 23, 2007
FEDERAL OMBUDSMAN FOR VICTIMS OF CRIME
APPOINTED
The Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada,
Rob Nicholson, Q.C., and the Minister of Public Safety, Stockwell Day,
have announced that Steve Sullivan has been appointed to the position of
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime. The Federal Ombudsman
for Victims of Crime will ensure the federal government meets its
commitments; will promote access to existing government programs and
services; and will identify and explore systemic and emerging victim
issues.
The establishment of the office is in response to victim
and victim advocates calls for an increased voice in the criminal
justice system and federal corrections.
Before victims can address their complaint to the Federal
Ombudsman for Victims of Crime they must first have exhausted all other
avenues for resolving complaints, including within the National Parole
Board and the Correctional Service Canada.
Visit their
website for more details.
Ontario Ombudsman Releases Report on
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
February 27, 2007 - The Ontario Ombudsman, Andre Marin, released
his report on the treatment of victims by the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Board. Visit the "What's
New" section of Ombudsman's website to view the 92 page report (PDF
format), entitled "Adding Insult to Injury." From their
website, you can also view
press releases and a list of
news articles about the report.
The Ministry of the Attorney General responded to the report immediately
advising they will implement recommendations. The government says
it plans increased financial resources to the board for backlog
reduction. This will include money for victim compensation, as well as
additional adjudicators and staff to speed up the compensation process.
In the longer term, and as recommended by the Ombudsman, the Attorney
General will overhaul the current compensation system. The Attorney
General will appoint an independent expert to hold consultations on a
proposed new framework with victims' organizations and communities. "Our
plans will be in place by
August 15," the Attorney General states.
View the Attorney General's complete response, "Attorney
General to Overhaul Victim Services" and the March 2, 2007, News
Release, "Government
to Appoint Chief Justice Roy McMurtry to Review Victims Compensation
System."
We have more information on what this report means to Criminal
Injuries Compensation Board applicants in our
May 2007
newsletter.
November 2006 -
We have filed a complaint with the Office of the Ombudsman Ontario
regarding our serious concerns about the extensive delays with the
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board process. View a copy of our
letter
(PDF, 3 pgs).
The Criminal Injuries Compensation Board website has 3 new
information packages, called "Application Tips," on its website
at
http://www.cicb.gov.on.ca/en/tips.htm.
These packages are designed to address common questions applicants may
have when completing the CICB's new forms and include images of relevant
forms and instructions on completion of particular sections.
The three packages are:
In Alphabetical Order:
Community Legal Education (CLEO) -
Pamphlets
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board
DAWN Ontario - Disabled Women's Network
Ontario (Walking on Eggshells Report)
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
The Law - Compensation for Victims of
Crime Act
Office for Victims of
Crime (Ministry of Attorney General)
Ontario Women's Justice Network
The Victim's Fund
Victim Quick Response Program
Victim Services (Ministry of
Attorney General)
Victim/Witness Assistance Program (VWAP)
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board (CICB)
This new site replaces the single page
previous located within the Ministry of the Attorney General's website.
It explains in detail
what the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is,
who is
eligible,
and how to go about making a claim.
It also provides information
on
Board members and has
fact sheets such as "ODSP
and OW Information," and "Payment
for Medical Reports."
The Law
Compensation for Victims of Crime Act - Provincial legislation.
Links to other legislation the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board is subject to are found on their "Legislation"
page.
Criminal Injuries Compensation Board Rules of Procedure - these
rules can be found on the "Resources" page at the Criminal Injuries
Compensation Board site along with a link for "Guidelines to the
Public".
Back to Index
Other Related Sites
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
(NEW!)
The mandate of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
relates exclusively to matters of federal responsibility and includes:
-
facilitating
access of victims to existing federal programs and services by
providing them with information and referrals;
-
addressing
complaints of victims about compliance with the provisions of the
Corrections and Conditional Release Act that apply to
victims of offenders under federal supervision and providing an
independent resource for those victims;
-
enhancing
awareness among criminal justice personnel and policy makers of the
needs and concerns of victims and the applicable laws that benefit
victims of crime, including to promote the principles set out in the
Canadian Statement of Basic Principles of Justice for Victims of
Crime; and
-
identifying emerging issues and exploring systemic issues that
impact negatively on victims of crime
Back to Index
Office for Victims of Crime
Ministry of the Attorney General site
Victim Services
Ministry of the Attorney General site -
provides links to information on programs and services offered by
Ontario Victim Services Secretariat
Victim/Witness Assistance Program
Ministry of the Attorney General site -
office locations and phone numbers
Community Legal Education Ontario (CLEO)
- "Do You Know a Woman Who
is Being Abused?" pamphlet is available online here, as well as "Immigrant
Women and Domestic Violence" (this link is to the web page the
pamphlet is located on - scroll down to "Immigration and Refugee Fact
Sheets" and click on the pamphlet name).
Ontario Women's Justice
Network
An online legal resource for women's
organizations and individuals working on issues related to justice and
violence against women and children
DAWN Ontario - Disabled
Women's Network Ontario
DAWN is a progressive, volunteer-driven, feminist
organization promoting social justice, human rights and the advancement
of equality rights through education, research, advocacy,
coalition-building, resource development and information technology.
You can view/download a copy of the report "Walking
on Eggshells: Abused Women's Experiences of Ontario's Welfare System"
on DAWN's website.
Back to Index
The Victim's Fund
This fund provides financial assistance to victims of
crime to attend National Parole Board hearings.
Victim Quick Response Program (VQRP)
This is a pilot project from June 30, 2007 to March 31,
2008 that provides funding for crimes that occurred on or after June 30,
2007. Emergency, funeral and short-term early intervention counseling
expenses are services that will be covered. Victims need to be referred
by police or reported incident to police. In cases of domestic violence
or sexual assault a community agency can make the referral. (FAQ)
Contact: Lorrie Tannahill 613-968-2111 or
1-877-968-2111
Email:
victimquickresponse@bellnet.ca
Starting July 16, 2007, victims may contact the agency in
their area. In Hastings, Lennox & Addington, and Prince Edward
Counties, the service delivery organization to contact is:
Back to Index
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Latest Resources on Abuse and Family Violence from CLEONet
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Latest News on Abuse and Family Violence from CLEONet
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Latest News on Legal Issues for Women from CLEONet
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This site provides general information only,
specific to Ontario, Canada. It is
NOT legal advice. 
