BARRHEAD – The announcement that the province plans to change the way victim services units (VSU) are operated leaves a lot of questions and raises almost as many concerns the community boards that provide the service.
At least it does for the Barrhead Community VSU.
The Barrhead Community VSU, like the vast majority of VSUs, is a non-profit organization that helps support individuals who are the victims of crime, trauma, death or other emergencies. Most often, the VSU, and its volunteer advocates are called upon at the request of the RCMP. However, they also receive referrals from other agencies such as fire services, the Crown Prosecutor’s office, healthcare centres, and ambulance crews.
On July 19, Justice Minister and Solicitor General Tyler Shandro announced in Sylvan Lake that the province would be enhancing victim services, most notably programs for the victims of crime.
"Some of the changes are good," said Barrhead Community VSU chair Margaret Osborne in an Aug. 3 interview with the Leader.
She gave the example of the government reversing its previous decision that saw the Victims of Crime and Public Safety Fund used at least in part to fund other public safety initiatives. Now the fund will be used to pay for programs to help victims, through counselling and reimbursemnt programs while also increasiing the amount of time people can access the fund.
Starting Sept. 1, victims will now have two years instead of the previous limit of 45 days.
"They have looked into and changed how the fund is accessed, creating what looks like a three-tiered system, increasing the overall amount that a person can access," she said. "But we still have a lot of concerns and even more questions.”
Perhaps the most pressing concern that the Barrhead VSU has Osborne said is the elimination of the 62 not-for-profit community society boards that run VSUs, replacing them with four large regional boards.
It is worth mentioning that nine municipal or Indigenous-operated VSUs will continue to run independently.
The Barrhead VSU would be on the fringes of the northeast zone.
"That is already a bit of the problem for the unit, as Fort Assiniboine and Swan Hills would be in the northwest zone," she said.
Currently, the Barrhead Community VSU serves both areas.
She noted that during a July 20 online information session, Justice and Solicitor General (JSG) ministry officials told community VSUs that the regional boards would be incorporated as non-profit societies represented by 10-12 person boards.
"The final size is yet to be determined. But we were told, point blank, that not all communities will be able to be represented," Osborne said. "Nor do we know who the board will be and how to get on it if someone so desired."
Originally, the province hoped to have the changes in place by April 2023.
"But (justice officials) know that is unrealistic and more likely it will be more like a year-and-a-half or longer before they can get everything in place," she said. "(Basically) all they have is a framework, and there are so many questions that we have, and the JSG officials don't have a lot of answers as of yet."
As part of the accompanying July 19 press conference media release, the government stated that they plan to roll out the changes over the next year in phases. The release also noted that in the coming weeks, the government will continue to engage victim-serving organizations and other stakeholders, including Indigenous communities, on the best way to implement the new service delivery model.
One of the reasons the government has touted the creation of larger, regional zones is that by pooling resources, smaller communities will have access to the same victim services regardless of where they live.
But Osborne said she does not believe that is true.
"It looks like they are focusing on the victims of crime and are trying to distance themselves from working with victims of other traumas and tragedies, which is a big concern for us because that is a big part of what victim services do," she said. "Whether it is a notification of death, a suicide, those are the things, we believe, VSUs would no longer be dealing with."
Osborne added that in those types of cases, it is often the RCMP that are called upon to deliver the bad news, and they regularly enlist the help of VSUs via their volunteer victim advocates.
"Advocates have been trained and are very good at handling those situations," she said. "Without (VSU advocates), that responsibility will be put back onto the RCMP. It is obvious that (the government) did not consult with the RCMP."
It is worth mentioning that in the July 19 media release announcing the changes to victim services, Alberta RCMP Supt. Michael McCauley stated that “the Alberta RCMP fully supports the regional model that has been developed, as it will create efficiencies that will truly benefit the victims of crime in the province of Alberta. As Alberta’s provincial police force, we have appreciated the opportunity to take part in the consultation process that has led to this redesign.”
Osborne said she is also concerned about what will happen to the people who are currently employed by VSUs, most notably program managers.
"They have been invited to apply to be victim case workers, but there is no guarantee that they will get the job," she said, noting it will be up to the new boards to decide who to hire.
"That will take time," Osborne said, adding the boards will first have to set up and then they will have to establish hiring policies and criteria. "That is a lot of uncertainty and stress for people who have worked so hard to serve their communities."
She also added that the province has said that the volunteer advocates will still play a role in the new framework, but they have not stated what that will be.
"So, again, a lot of uncertainty," Osborne said.
Unfortunately, she said that although many VSUs, after the announcement, have started voicing their misgivings about the changes, Osborne does not see the government backtracking regardless of who is in power, as the changes are supported by the amendments to Bill 16, Victims of Crime Act (which came into effect in June 2020) of reversing its decision.
However, Osborne said that even if the Barrhead Community VSU society is doomed to dissolve, she hopes the government, through the JSG, is able to provide some clarity to VSUs, their workers and volunteers, and their communities so that everyone can prepare for the upcoming changes.
