The provincial government is using the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund to distribute $750,000 in funding, and the Brandon Police Service will be among the organizations receiving the money.
Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced in Dauphin today that the money would go to supporting victims and surviving family members of serious crimes, including homicide, sexual assault and intimate partner violence.
“November is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and our government is strengthening its support for victims of intimate partner violence and other serious crimes throughout the province,” said Wiebe. “Our public safety strategy commits to supporting Manitobans victimized by crime and we are able to help victims and their families rebuild their lives by redirecting the proceeds of criminal activity in Manitoba to valuable community programs.”
In a release, the provincial government said CPF Fund distributes proceeds from the sale of seized criminal property to organizations in the province that focus on community safety. The CPF Fund also includes a funding stream for the Manitoba Justice Victim Services branch, which offers support to all individuals under the Canadian Victims Bill of Rights. Last year, the province increased the fund to $750,000 from $500,000 in previous years.
The government announced $35,000 of that money would go to the BPS “to provide support, information and referral services to help victims of crime”. A further $35,000 will go to the Parkland Crisis Centre and Women’s Shelter in Dauphin, which provides support services to women and children escaping intimate partner abuse, a 24-hour crisis line, emergency shelter, counselling, child and youth programs, support groups, referrals and advocacy.
“The Parkland Crisis Centre and Women’s Shelter is excited to announce the newly formed partnership with Victim Services to improve service accessibility within our community,” said Kari Prawdzik, executive director, Parkland Crisis Centre. “The shelter is passionate about empowering individuals to break free from the cycles of violence and building healthier futures. Our organization’s goals are to assist in providing life-changing support to those affected by family, intimate partner and gender-based violence.”
The release also said another $35,000 would go to the Western Manitoba Women’s Centre (WMWC) in Brandon, which serves women, gender-diverse individuals and their children across western Manitoba with trauma-informed counselling, advocacy and inclusive programming.
