Ottawa, October 23, 2013 – Today, the Honourable Peter MacKay, P.C., Q.C., M.P. for Central Nova, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, and the Honourable Steven Blaney, P.C., M.P. for Lévis-Bellechasse and Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced that the Increasing Offenders' Accountability for Victims Act will come into force on October 24, 2013.
The coming into force of this legislation makes convicted offenders more accountable to victims of crime by doubling the victim surcharge that offenders must pay, and ensuring that the surcharge is automatically applied in all cases.
"Our Government followed through on our commitment to double the victim surcharge and ensure that it cannot be waived,” said Minister MacKay. "Our Government is sending a signal that offenders must pay for the harm they cause to victims and this legislation ensures that victim support services receive the funding that they require and deserve.”
“Our Government is taking strong steps to keep our streets and communities safe, and part of that includes holding offenders accountable,” said Minister Blaney. “Canadians deserve a justice system that sentences offenders in a way that reflects the severity of their crime and respects victims of crime. By making the surcharge mandatory, the Increasing Offenders' Accountability for Victims Act ensures that all offenders are held responsible for their actions.”
With the coming into force of these amendments to the Criminal Code, the victim surcharge will be 30 percent of any fine imposed or, where no fine is imposed, $100 for a summary conviction offence and $200 for an indictable offence. The surcharge, which is imposed on offenders at the time of sentencing, is collected and retained by the provincial or territorial government where an offender is sentenced, and is used to help fund services for victims of crime.
The victim surcharge will be mandatory for all offenders. Those who cannot pay will be able to discharge the victim surcharge by participating in a fine option program or through alternative mechanisms, where they exist.
These changes build on the work the Government has already done to ensure that those who break the law are held fully accountable and sentenced in a way that appropriately reflects the seriousness of their actions; and to ensure that victims have a more effective voice in the criminal justice system. They are also in line with the Speech from the Throne 2013 commitment to introduce measures that will increase support for crime victims.
An online version of the legislation can be found at www.parl.gc.ca.
Backgrounder: Victim Surcharge.
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Ref.:
Paloma Aguilar
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207
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