GOVERNMENT OF CANADA TAKES ACTION TO PROTECT CHILD VICTIMS
ST. CATHARINES, April 27, 2012 – The Honourable Rob Nicholson, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Niagara Falls, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, today joined Rick Dykstra, M.P. for St. Catharines, to announce Government of Canada funding for Child Advocacy Centre Niagara.
CAC Niagara brings together police, child welfare agencies, victim services, health authorities, and mental health professionals to serve young victims of crime. This funding from the Government of Canada will enhance the services of CAC Niagara to meet the needs of children and youth who are victims of abuse, internet exploitation or witnesses to serious crime.
"Our Government is committed to providing victims - especially children - with the services and support that they need,
" said Minister Nicholson. "Children are even more vulnerable to the trauma of crime and this funding will go a long way to ensure a stronger and more effective voice for young victims in our community.
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CAC Niagara seeks to minimize the trauma faced by child victims of abuse or witnesses to serious crime. A CAC is a place where a team of professionals work in a child-friendly setting to help a child or youth victim or witness navigate the criminal justice system.
"This Child Advocacy Centre will continue to serve the community and work with local agencies that are helping children and youth who are victims of abuse and crime,
" said Dykstra. "This government remains committed to victims of crime, particularly children and youth.
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"We are proud that CACN serves the entire Niagara Region,
" said Cindy Paskey, Executive Director of CAC Niagara. "Our partners, Niagara Regional Police and Family and Children's Services, report - on average - at least one child abuse investigation per day. This speaks to the importance of providing a safe place for Niagara's children and youth who have experienced physical or sexual abuse, Internet child exploitation or have witnessed violence.
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The $182,731 in federal funding over two years comes from the $5.25 million commitment over five years that was announced October 7, 2010, and is made available through the Victims Fund of the Department of Justice Canada.
In 2007, the Government announced the Federal Victims Strategy and committed $52 million over four years to respond to the needs of victims of crime. In Budget 2011, the Government renewed the Federal Victims Strategy at a funding level of $13 million per year. On April 23, 2012, in Ottawa, Minister Nicholson announced additional funding of $7 million over five years from Budget 2012, $5 million of which will be directed to the creation and enhancement of Child Advocacy Centres across Canada.
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