Justice and Public Safety
May 30, 2017

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Andrew Parsons, Minister of Justice and Public Safety:

Minister Parsons Acknowledges Victims and Survivors of Crime

Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize May 29-June 2 as Victims and Survivors of Crime Week. This week, we’d like to raise awareness about the issues facing victims and survivors of crime in this province and the programs, services, and laws in place to help victims of crime and their families participate more fully in the criminal justice system.

Mr. Speaker, this week is also an opportunity to acknowledge the important work of service providers, such as our own Victim Services, for their dedication to assisting victims and survivors of crime.

Mr. Speaker, since coming into this role as minister, it has been a top priority for me to ensure the justice system works for everyone, particularly victims who need additional support.

This past fall, I had the opportunity to sit down with staff from our Victim Services who work hard to meet the diverse needs of survivors of crime by offering free support to assist in the healing process. Victim Services provides a wide range of services, some of which include referrals for counselling, safety planning, court preparation and assistance with completing a Victim Impact Statement. Mr. Speaker, this is a very important program that helps a lot of victims in this province and I’d like to thank everyone who passionately contributes to the services.

We recognize that victims need support on many levels—and they need to know their options. Mr. Speaker, last month we announced a Sexual Assault Response Pilot program to provide free legal advice to survivors of sexual violence. This program will give victims access to justice and empower them to make informed choices as they navigate through the justice system.

The experience for a victim of crime can be life altering and the impact is profound. This week, and every week, we are committed to do whatever we can to ensure victims have access to justice and to help in the healing process.

Thank you

2017 05 30                                           2:00 p.m.