New Law Boosts Support for Crime Victims

This bill strengthens the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights by making key information to victims provided proactively, not only on request, and by creating a right to tailored support services. It reframes restitution as a broader right to reparations, including access to restorative justice and assistance to enforce restitution orders. It centralizes the federal complaints process with a designated authority, mandates regular training for justice system personnel, and requires a national implementation framework with standards, awareness, and reporting. It also contemplates strengthening the independence of the Federal Ombudsperson for Victims of Crime and sets timelines for tabling and reviewing the framework.

• Proactive rights to information on general matters, investigations/proceedings, and about the offender or accused (sections 6–8).
• New right to access legal, social, medical, and psychological services suited to victims’ needs (s.13.1).
• Right to reparations, including access to restorative justice and court consideration of restitution; assistance to enter and enforce restitution orders (ss.16, 17.1).
• Clarifies that application of the Act must not derogate from victims’ access to justice and procedural fairness (s.20(d.1)).
• Complaints centralized to an authority designated by Governor in Council (s.25(2)).
• Mandatory training developed within 180 days; federal justice employees trained within 3 months of hire and at least every 3 years; periodic review and provincial consultation.
• Minister must develop a victims’ rights implementation framework with minimum service standards, participation mechanisms, parole process improvements, a public awareness campaign, and proposals to legislate the Ombudsperson’s independence; annual tabling and a five-year effectiveness report.