Whereas the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General has primary responsibility for funding Police Based Victim Services programs and local governments are being requested to cost-share funding programs in communities that contribute to policing costs; And whereas the existing funding structure may create instability and capacity challenges for Police Based Victim Services programs reliant on a level of funding certainty in order to adequately plan, deliver and sustain programs that support the safety needs of victims and communities: Therefore be it resolved that UBCM request the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General fully fund Police Based Victim Services programs to ensure they are adequately funded on an ongoing basis to support and sustain the need for victim services in communities throughout BC.
Minister of Public Safety and Solicitor General This government recognizes that service providers for victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and other violent crimes have experienced challenges meeting service demands in communities throughout BC. Budget 2018 increased annual funding for victim service including police-based victim service programs and violence against women programs by 5 million starting in 201819 with an additional increase of 3 million in 202021, for a total increase of 8 million annually 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. This funding increase enables programs to enhance frontline service delivery, decrease waitlists and address long-standing operational pressures. In total, the ministry now provides over 40 million annually in funding to support over 400 victim service and violence against women programs across the province. Police-based victim service programs are cost shared with local governments in communities that contribute to their policing costs. This cost-sharing approach recognizes the critical role that police-based victim service programs play in police and community response to crime and trauma, particularly around crisis response services. We are aware that some service providers and programs continue to face financial pressures and ministry staff continue to work with those service providers on these issues. Funding for victim service including police based victim service programs and violence against women programs is provided by the ministry via annual contracts with existing service providers.