LITTLE CURRENT—Manitoulin Northshore Victims Services presented at the Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands’ (NEMI) council meeting and unveiled a new comprehensive program to aid victims of violent crime. The Victims and Vulnerable Persons Division (VPD) of the Ministry of Community, Children and Social Services (MCCSS) has established the Victim Quick Response Program+ (VQRP+) to provide timely assistance to eligible victims. To be eligible, the victim must reside in Ontario, the crime must have been committed in the province (or in part in cases of human trafficking) and the individual must not be charged criminally in the reported incident.
The program is being sponsored by NEMI, the Municipality of Assiginack, Central Manitoulin, the Township of Billings and Domtar after NEMI declared intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of family violence a state of emergency, as was reported by The Expositor in December of 2023.
Eligible crimes include attempts to commit murder, child abuse, criminal harassment, elder abuse, hate crimes, historical child sexual abuse, homicide, human trafficking, IPV, non-consensual distribution of intimate images, sexual assault, serious assault and voyeurism. Victims service also provides safety planning that might include mobile tracking systems for victims of IPV and criminal harassment to help prevent continuing violence and to help the individual feel safer as they work to recover from the crime.
The ministry has allocated increased funding specifically for anti-human trafficking programming. All expense limits under the VQRP+ program have been raised for direct victims to a maximum of nearly $30,000 for eligible expenses within specific timelines.
The Ontario Provincial Police statistics for Manitoulin District between April of 2022 and March 2023 showed that there was a total of 294 incidents, including 34 non-domestic violence-related assaults, 13 incidents of criminal harassment including stalking, 103 cases of domestic violence, nine incidents of homicide, 26 incidents of sexual violence, five cases of human trafficking and a single case of elder abuse were reported. Over one-third of reports were domestic violence-related, a staggering number. Most reports came from police services and self-referrals.
Victims Services Executive Director Amy Collins announced the new programming that will be made available for persons living on Manitoulin Island and the North Shore from Walford to Nairn Centre. Victims, loved ones or witnesses can call police services 24 hours a day to secure short-term crisis response that includes emotional and practical assistance as well as referrals for long-term care if necessary. Victims services accept calls from police services, community partners including agencies and self-referrals and can dispatch a team of two specially trained crisis responders to the scene. Support services such as security items and other necessary items are also available. Long-term supports include counselling, shelter, assistance if involved in the court process, financial aid, community assistance, bereavement programming, addictions and mental health, restraining orders and peace bonds and court and legal aid services for child custody and access cases.
Practical supports include accompaniment, safety planning, clothing, food, personal hygiene products, emergency transportation, emergency kits, gas cards, and short-term hotel accommodations, all available based on the individual’s needs and what they have been the victim of.
The presentation emphasized the importance of victims reaching out for help. Supported victims are less likely to recant, are better prepared for court, have greater chances of recovery and can assist in ongoing investigations. It was also noted that police services can attend to other emergencies knowing that victims are supported elsewhere.
To reach Manitoulin Northshore Victim Services please call 705-370-3378.
