Government of Canada Provides Funding to Assess Need for a Child Advocacy Centre in New Brunswick

SAINTE-ANNE DE KENT, NEW BRUNSWICK--(Marketwired - July 31, 2015) - Department of Justice Canada

Today, Robert Goguen, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Member of Parliament for Moncton-Riverview-Dieppe, on behalf of Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada Peter MacKay, announced funding of $298,125 to the Kent Centre for the Prevention of Violence for a study to assess the need for a child advocacy centre in New Brunswick.

Child advocacy centres (CACs) and child and youth advocacy centres (CYACs) help child and youth victims and their families navigate the criminal justice system. They provide a safe child- and youth-friendly environment where a coordinated team of professionals works to meet the specific needs of each person. The work of a multidisciplinary team in a CYAC or a CAC can greatly reduce the emotional and mental harm to child and youth victims involved in the criminal justice system.

In Economic Action Plan 2015, the Government committed to provide additional funding to CACs and CYACs. Starting in 2016-17, the Government will provide $5.25 million over four years, and $2.1 million on an annual basis thereafter, to make the support and services provided by CACs and CYACs more accessible in communities across the country.

Quick Facts

• The funding of $298,125 will be provided as follows:
  
  
  • $139,970 in 2015-16
  • $158,155 in 2016-17

• In Phase I of the project, the organization will conduct a feasibility study to validate the need to establish a CAC in New Brunswick, and will engage key partners to develop a common strategy, organizational structure and service delivery model designed to provide a seamless response to the specific needs of children victims of abuse and their families.

• Phase II of the project will allow the organization to take action on the steps identified in the feasibility study, gather information from existing CACs in Canada on their practices and procedures, and develop policies, guidelines and a protocol of agreement with key partners.

• Since 2010, the Government of Canada has invested $10.3 million through the Victims Fund for new or enhanced child advocacy centres and child and youth advocacy centres across Canada.

• Additionally, the Government has put in place several pieces of legislation to help protect children. These include the Safe Streets and Communities Act, which received Royal Assent in March 2012; the Protecting Canadians from Online Crime Act, which came into force in March 2015; and the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights, which came into force this month. In addition, the Criminal Code amendments contained in the new Tougher Penalties for Child Predators Act, which also came into force this month, will put an end to sentencing discounts for child sex offenders who commit crimes against multiple children.

Quotes

"Our Government is pleased to provide support to the Kent Centre for the Prevention of Violence in its efforts to determine the need for a CAC in New Brunswick. These safe, child-focussed environments are a one-stop shop where victims and their families can go to receive the services they need both to navigate the criminal justice system and to heal."

Peter MacKay

Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Our Government is committed to standing up for victims of crime and giving them a more effective voice in the criminal justice and corrections systems. This study, by bringing together many partners at different levels of government and in the community, will go a long way towards ensuring that young victims of abuse in New Brunswick get the best help possible."

Robert Goguen

Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General, MP for Moncton - Riverview - Dieppe

"The Kent Centre for the Prevention of Family Violence is very excited about this contribution, which will allow us to bring help directly to the children who are victims of sexual violence, as well as their families. This project responds to a great need in New Brunswick. Our work focuses on collaboration and partnerships with the goal of developing and putting in place a model that will respond to the needs of victims. We thank the Department of Justice Canada for this contribution."

Angèle Losier

Director, Kent Centre for the Prevention of Family Violence

Related Products

• Backgrounder: Federal Victims Strategy and Victims Fund
• Backgrounder: Child Advocacy Centres

Associated Links

• Department of Justice Canada's Policy Centre for Victim Issues

• Department of Justice Canada's Victims Fund

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