By: Mackenzie Coleman, University of Alberta Law Student
On August 27, 2024, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced that the Manitoba Justice Victims Services will receive a 50 per cent increase in funding from the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund. In 2024, the fund is providing $750,000 to Manitoba Justice Victim Services. Using the proceeds of the sale of seized criminal property, the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund aims to enhance public safety and protect Manitoba families. The fund grants are used for a variety of initiatives such as supporting victims of crime, preventing crime and investing in youth.[1]
Wiebe says that “we need to do everything we can to support Manitobans who are victims of crimes. These resources will support programs running throughout the province and ensure that [the Fund] can make compassionate, community-based care available to those who need it in the aftermath of a crime”.[2] Some of the initiatives that will benefit from the increase in funding include Heartwood Healing Center, Survivor’s Hope Crisis Center’s Sexual Assault Recovery and Healing, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Family and Community Wellness Center, Mount Carmel Clinic’s Sage House, Ndinawaemaaganag Endaawaad Inc.’s Child and Youth Care Certificate Program, Candace House, and MADD Canada.[3] Services offered by the programs include legal assistance for intimate partner violence victims, bereavement counselling for homicide victim’s families and therapy for victims of sexual abuse.[4]
Coral Kendel, executive director of Survivor’s Hope Crisis Center says that “the financial support that [the Center] receives from Manitoba Justice is fundamental to the care we provide to survivors of sexualized violence accessing our 24-7 SARAH crisis program at Interlake-Eastern area hospitals and RCMP detachment”. Kendel says that “community-based programs like SARAH increase the options to justice available in rural Manitoba and empower survivors to heal in ways that make sense to them. We are encouraged to hear of the increase in funding provided to Manitoba Victims Services and look forward to our continued relationship together with the shared goal of supporting Manitobans impacted by violence.”[5]
Manitoba Justice Victim Services has a goal of supporting “victims of serious crimes, as outlined in The Victims’ Bill of Rights. This includes victims of domestic violence and other serious crimes, such as murders and sexual assaults. Victim Services also provides support to child victims. Witness, and families of murdered and missing Indigenous persons.”[6]
Manitoba also allocates over $20 million to organizations through the gender-based violence program, which focuses on prevention and support for survivors. This year’s budget also includes an additional $420,000 for shelters assisting women escaping intimate partner violence.[7] These efforts are a part of the province’s broader commitment to support victims of crime and violence in Manitoba.[8]
The increase in funding follows two violent tragedies involving rural Manitoban families over the past six months. On August 16 in McCreary, a “41-year-old Marlon Glover killed the parents and brother of a woman he was previously in a relationship with; she was able to flee to a wooded area. He shot himself and died. And Carman resident Ryan Manoakeesick is charged with five counts of first-degree murder in the Feb. 11 deaths of his common-law partner Amanda Clearwater, her three young children Isabella, Jayven and Bethany, and her 17-year-old niece Myah-Lee Gratton”.[9] Kendel says that the prevalence of intimate partner violence in rural Manitoba is a result of many factors including “someone may not choose to report based on small-town gossip, or if their perpetrator is someone in a position of power in the community and it will just end up ostracizing the victim, or if it is removing them from their support system to access the means of justice – if they’re not able to travel to the nearest large town to access justice or other social services”.[10] A portion of the funds from the Manitoba Justice Victim Services is allocated towards supporting survivors of intimate partner violence in rural areas and preventing future incidents through educational programs in school.[11]
The funds represents a significant step forward in improving access to justice, particularly for rural victims of crime in Manitoba. The increase in funding will improve legal assistance for vulnerable populations which aids in access to proper representation and education on victim’s rights. Victims will have greater access to resources such as counseling, protective services, and legal aid. Access to justice will be improved through community outreach programs to ensure that more victims—particularly those in rural Manitoba—are aware of the support options available to them. A 50% increase in funding means that more Manitoban victims will have accessibility to the justice system and support in the wake of crime.
Victim support is important at every step of the procedures in the court. Increased funding means that victims will have access to counselling and support during the reporting state, at trial, and at sentencing and restitution. Importantly, Manitoba Justice Victim Services focuses on providing ongoing support and resources post-sentencing to rehabilitate victims of crime.[12]
[1] Government of Manitoba, “Manitoba Government Increases Funding to Support Victims of Crime” (27 August 2024), online: <https://news.gov.mb.ca/news/index.html?item=64757#:~:text=The%20Manitoba%20government%20is%20providing,Minister%20Matt%20Wiebe%20announced%20today>.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Sam Thompson, “Manitoba bumps funding for victim services up to $750K”, (27 August 2024) online: < https://globalnews.ca/news/10717607/manitoba-victim-services-increase/>.
[5] Supra, note 1.
[6] Government of Manitoba, “Victim Services”, online: <https://www.gov.mb.ca/justice/vs>.
[7] Rob Mahon, “Manitoba to boost funding for victims of crime” (28 August 2024) online: <https://qcountryfm.ca/2024/08/28/manitoba-to-boost-funding-for-victims-of-crime/>.
[8] Chris Dell, “Manitoba Increases Funding for Victim Services to Support Crime Services” (27 August 2024) online: <https://www.chrisd.ca/2024/08/27/manitoba-victim-services-funding-crime-survivors/#google_vignette>.
[9] Carol Sanders, “Province increases victim services funding in aftermath of rural tragedies” (27 August 2024) online: <https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/2024/08/27/province-increases-victims-services-funding-in-aftermath-of-rural-tragedies>.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Supra, note 1.
Very informative!