Evidence of meeting #36 for Justice and Human Rights in the 40th Parliament, 3rd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was years.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
Yes. There are 2,000 employees with the Ottawa Police Services.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
Yes.
Oh, you wanted to talk about the new office?
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
No. I would like to know how many people are there to help victims. You are the Ombudsman for Victims.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
In truth, the services as a whole are responsible for these people.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
We are therefore essentially talking about 2,000 individuals.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
There are the 2,000 individuals working for the Ottawa Police Services. All of its members have a responsibility towards victims. For example, there are officers that answer calls.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
I do not understand. I would like to know how many people there are in the new service that you joined in the month of August, namely the Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
There are 11 people.
Bloc
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
To the same office, here in Ottawa.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
They are in Ottawa, but they obviously move about, depending on the complaints they are dealing with.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
There are two ways we assist victims through the office: collectively, and individually. Collectively we reach out throughout the country. People call the office or e-mail us. We deal with any complaints from federally registered victims.
The mandate also allows us to address and review complaints, promote awareness of the needs and concerns of victims, and identify emerging issues and make recommendations to government.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
We have very little time, Ms. O'Sullivan. I do not think you will have any objection to answering my next question.
Do you consider that this number is sufficient, given the immense task that you have decided to take on?
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
I am presently working on a strategic plan in order to define the office's priorities. I am doing a review of the office, and it is not yet finished. In direct response to your question, I would say that this review must be completed and that the discussions with victims and victim support groups, nationally, must come to fruition. Once the review has been completed, it will have to be determined if the office's staff is sufficient to carry out its mandate.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
As far as your work is concerned, it mainly consists in receiving victims' complaints, but I imagine that you would also foresee presenting each year to the government a list of things that should be changed, in the interest of victims. Is that correct?
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
Yes. Today, for example, I am making presentations to committees. There is also an annual report that is
tabled here with government.
I started in my new position last August, and I have made numerous statements aimed at the public. For example, the second week following my appointment, I spoke about the gun registry. It was entirely public.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
The gun registry.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
I contacted the media. I sent a letter to minister Nicholson. I was speaking out against the government's position. That is just one illustration of the way in which the office is able to make itself heard. We can indeed make presentations before committees such as this, as well as use the media.
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Do you have at your disposal the necessary funding to be able to commission studies that you might deem necessary, pertaining, for example, to the care to be provided to victims or to the best way of dealing with victims? I am thinking among other things about the police services, obviously, because your 11 employees will never be able to take care of all of the victims alone. You will have to call upon local organizations.
Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime, Office of the Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime
I think everything has to be looked at as a big picture. The office has a certain amount of money, and that process is under way. It also has operating costs and it has costs for salary.
Do I have money in the budget to undertake massive studies? No, I do not.
As I indicated, what we're doing is setting a strategic plan for the next three years for the office. We're looking at visioning five to ten years out. We're conducting a review. And I talked about the style of open communication. There are many agencies involved in the service of supporting victims, and as this committee is very much aware, the provinces and territories are largely responsible for the actual hands-on delivery of services to victims. So this office's mandate does deal with federally registered victims, but we also take a tremendous number of calls from people and refer them over to appropriate services, either at the provincial or territorial level.
To answer your question, we will be looking at all of that. I have had the opportunity in the last 12 weeks to meet with a tremendous number of people across this country, to engage in consultations with victims, to have a meeting with other federal agencies, such as Correctional Services Canada and the parole board, to meet with many other regional contacts for these services, to present to over 90 judges on issues. So we are taking all opportunities to utilize and keep those open lines of communication to deliver the mandate of the office. This early on, as I said, I think anyone standing here could tell you that to have more money and be able to complete--
Bloc
Serge Ménard Bloc Marc-Aurèle-Fortin, QC
Your resume is impressive, but I see that you have always worked in policing.
Do you not feel the need to be supported by people with training in human sciences, for example in psychology or sociology?