NEWS
QUEEN’S PARK – Yesterday, Ted Chudleigh, MPP Halton and PC Critic to the Attorney General filed a Motion with the Clerk of the Legislative Committee on Justice Policy which called for a review of Ontario’s Victims’ Justice Fund.
The Liberal Government has said they will review the matter for a third time. The PC Caucus is taking immediate action today to support victims of crime. Today in the Ontario Legislature, when asked by Chudleigh if the Liberal Government will support the PC Motion, the Attorney General said, “I’m very pleased to hear that the Committee is going to take a look at this…”
The Liberal commitment to support parents and other victims of crime will be seen tomorrow when they vote on the PC Motion. Will the Liberals consider victims’ needs for more than half an hour and vote in favour of the PC Motion?
QUOTES
“The Liberal Government has shown an unacceptable complacency towards parents whose children have died or been murdered. I saw this after Justice Goudge released his report on Dr. Charles Smith and again when I heard about Liz Hoage’s experience. After such unimaginable loss the province should not place further burdens on victims. That is why I introduced this Motion. I hope the Liberals will vote in favour of the Motion and support for victims of crime.”
Ted Chudleigh, MPP (Halton) and PC Critic to the Attorney General
“The Liberal Government has been told twice that their support of victims of crime is seriously flawed. Now they’re calling for a third review. Tim Hudak and the PC Caucus have responded with action. We promised to release the Victims’ Justice Fund surplus to victims and law enforcement agencies, to ensure the definition the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board uses to determine compensation reflects the needs of victims and to ensure significant representation on the CICB for victims.”
Ted Chudleigh, MPP (Halton) and PC Critic to the Attorney General
FACTS
The PC Motion reads as follows: “I move, – That the Standing Committee on Justice Policy undertake a comprehensive study that summarizes the revenues and expenditures from the Victims’ Justice Fund, since 2003, and identifies performance measures to be used to assess the effectiveness of the Victims’ Justice Fund’s financial allocations in the future. Ted Chudleigh, MPP”
The Liberal government has been criticized twice in the past for failing to support victims of crime at the Criminal Injuries Compensation Board and for carrying significant surpluses in the Victims’ Justice Fund. First, in 2007, they were criticized by the Ombudsman and, secondly, in 2008 in a report by Chief Justice Roy McMurtry.
