July 31, 2015 – Montreal, QC – Department of Justice.
Today, the Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, Denis Lebel, on behalf of the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Peter MacKay, announced $160,000 in funding for the Centre d'expertise Marie-Vincent to help minimize the difficulties that child and youth victims face in dealing with the challenges of the criminal justice system.
The project will increase access to specialized services for children 12 years of age and under in the Laval and Montérégie regions, who are victims of sexual assault. The centre will also continue to provide support to minimize the trauma children and youth can experience as victims or witnesses in the justice system, by providing a single, child-friendly setting to encourage child and youth victims or witnesses and their families to seek services.
Child advocacy centres (CACs) and child and youth advocacy centres (CYACs) help child and youth victims and their families navigate the criminal justice system. They provide a safe child- and youth-friendly environment where a coordinated, multidisciplinary team of professionals works to meet the specific needs of each person. The work of a multidisciplinary team in a CYAC or a CAC can greatly reduce the emotional and mental harm to child and youth victims involved in the criminal justice system.
In Economic Action Plan 2015, the Government committed to provide additional funding to CACs and CYACs. Starting in 2016-17, the Government will provide $5.25 million over four years, and $2.1 million on an annual basis thereafter, to make the support and services provided by CACs and CYACs more accessible in communities across the country.
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