Provincial Crime Victims’ Assistance Programs
The Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime has a great deal of information available, covering all the Provinces.
Most provinces in Canada have a compensation program for victims of crime. These programs are meant to fund (for male survivors) therapy, for a limited time, that will enable them to recover from their trauma. The following table summarizes their basic features:
| Province | Time Limit (1) | Police Report Required ? | Downloadable application form ? |
| BC | 1 year | No, but co-operation is. | Yes. |
| AB | 2 years | Yes. | Yes. |
| SK | 1 year | Yes. | Yes, but need to click on ‘Forms’ and search for ‘victim’. |
| MB | 1 year | Yes. | Yes. |
| ON | 2 years | No, but it would be taken into consideration. | No. Call 1-800-372-7463 to request application form. |
| PQ | 1 year | Yes. | No. Call 1-800-561-IVAC to request application form. |
| NB | 1 year | Yes. | No. Call the regional office, as noted on their web page. |
| NS | 1 year | Yes. | Yes. |
| NF | . | . | Compensation program discontinued in 1993. |
| PE | 1 year | Yes. | No. Call the regional office, as noted on their web page. |
| NU | . | . | Compensation program not available. |
| YT | . | . | Compensation program not available. |
| NW | . | . | Yes, click on ‘Victims of Crime Emergency Fund’ link. |
- In most Provinces, the Board may extend the time limit between the date of the abuse and the date of application – but you must apply for an Extension, and describe why you weren’t able to apply before the deadline. Usually the reason is quite straightforward: you were a child at the time.
Generally speaking, the following comments apply across the country:
- ALL provinces have a lengthy application approval process for historic sexual abuse cases. BC’s is the shortest, averaging about 5 months. Ontario’s is measured in years. Every province will require a mail-based ‘conversation’ where you send them a form and they’ll mail back another form to cover-off a need for yet another piece of information. Our Victim Service Workers can assist you if you’ll grant them the (written
) permission. - MOST of the application forms are available at our Vancouver office.
- Except for Ontario, the Offender is NOT notified of your application for compensation. In Ontario, the Offender will be contacted if there was no conviction in order to validate the facts.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact one of our Victim Services Workers in our Vancouver office.
