Ontario Awarding Victim Support Grant to Sarnia-Lambton 

Province supporting victims and survivors of intimate partner violence/domestic violence, human trafficking and child exploitation  

NEWS	September 20, 2023

Sarnia-Lambton—The Ontario government is investing more than $4 million across the province to help support victims and survivors of intimate partner violence/domestic violence, human trafficking, and child exploitation. The funding is being delivered through the Victim Support Grant program and includes $98,998 for the Sarnia Police Service.  

The Sarnia Police Service will work with the Sarnia-Lambton Coordinating Committee on Violence Against Women, and Victim Services of Sarnia-Lambton to address the significant increase in incidents of domestic and intimate partner violence. Collaborative initiatives will include a trauma-informed response for those reporting incidents (frontline training), investigative training, and the integration of a Victim Services Coordinator into the SPS to review incidents of intimate partner violence and provide ongoing outreach and support to victims/survivors. 

“This funding from the province will help the police and local agencies co-ordinate, and implement important community safety initiatives,” said Sarnia-Lambton MPP Bob Bailey. “I am extremely pleased that our government is making this investment to support survivors in our community.”

“Support for victims and survivors is a crucial first step to recovery,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “This important grant is part of our government’s plan to combat violent crime on our streets and ensure that victims are not left behind.” 

The Victim Support Grant (VSG) is part of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy and complements the province’s $307 million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy, 2020-2025 and Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021. 

QUICK FACTS 

• All municipal and First Nation police services as well as the Ontario Provincial Police are eligible to apply for funding through the VSG program. 

• The VSG can be used for a variety of projects and initiatives, including specialized training for law enforcement, culturally responsive education and awareness campaigns, and purchasing technology and equipment to enhance police investigations and provide survivors with the option to complete interviews remotely. 

• Of the 45 projects being funded across the province, 19 will focus on intimate partner violence and domestic violence, five on human trafficking, three on child exploitation, and 18 that will focus on all three areas.  

• The Ontario government is investing over $2 million in the Partner Assault Response (PAR) program to help break the cycle of intimate partner violence and keep communities safe. The PAR program provides specialized group education and counselling for people charged with intimate partner violence offences and offers support to current partners of those in the program. This two-year investment is in addition to the more than $2 million given to PAR providers in 2022.  

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES 

• Ontario’s Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy 
• Ontario.ca/humantrafficking