Whereas the costs to local governments for providing police-based victim services continues to escalate due to increased demand and annual inflation; And whereas the authority for providing victim services for: victims issues; development of legislation, policies and programs; training; and delivering and funding programs that support victims and their families is the responsibility of the Community Safety and Crime Prevention Branch of the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General: Therefore be it resolved that the UBCM urge the Province of BC, through the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General to increase the Ministrys funding contribution for the provision of police-based victim services within the Province of British Columbia.
Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General To better meet the ongoing demand for programs and services such as counselling, outreach and crisis support for women and children who experience domestic violence, sexual assault and other crimes, the 201819 budget increased annual funding by 5 million starting in 201819, which will be further increased by an additional 3 million in 202021, for a total increase of 18 million over three years. The Ministry now provides over 37 million annually in funding to support over 400 victim service and violence against women programs across the Province, which includes nearly 6 million for 91 police-based victim service programs. Additionally, in December 2017, the Ministry provided a total of 5 million in one-time Program Enhancement Grants, including 0.658 million to Police Based Victim Service programs across British Columbia to help address service delivery pressures for programs. The Ministry is aware that some agencies and programs continue to face financial pressures and ministry staff continue to work with those agencies on these issues.