Police based victim services coordinator Wayne Spychka addressed the Town of Gibsons council on Dec. 15 with a request for “secure, sustained” funding for the program.
The victim services program falls under the Sunshine Coast Community Services umbrella. The program responds to requests from RCMP for assistance to help victims of crimes and trauma including assaults, harassment, threats and sudden deaths such as suicides and accidents.
“We’re looking for secure, sustained partnership funding from all the local governments,” Spychka said, noting he’ll also be asking for funding from the Sunshine Coast Regional District, District of Sechelt and the Sechelt Indian Band.
Victims services received a $1,000 grant of assistance from the Town of Gibsons this year. They also received grants from the other local governments as well as an annual funding contribution from the Ministry of Justice, through Sunshine Coast Community Services.
However, Spychka said, “the existing funding structure creates instability for the program and limits the program’s capacity in terms of geographic reach and scope.”
Victim services has had a 39 per cent increase in files since 2013.
“Based on year to date statistics,” Spychka said, “we expect an additional 26 per cent increase in 2015-16.”
In light of these increases, Spychka said that victim services is asking for a minimum contribution of $12,754 from the Town of Gibsons.
Gibsons mayor Wayne Rowe called this a dramatic increase in budgeting from the previous year.
“Please understand that there is no question of the value of your services, I want to make that clear,” Rowe said. “We are a small town and I keep reminding people that a one per cent tax increase in the Town only brings in $25,000; $12,000 is already half a per cent of tax if we were to consider that.”
Sunshine Coast RCMP Sgt. Steven Chubey was also part of the delegation. He said that victim services is invaluable to the RCMP because it bridges the gap between community services for victims and the victims themselves.
“The nature of police work is social as much as it is criminal. Unfortunately we are not able to spend the time – nor do we necessarily have the training – to properly follow up with every victim,” Chubey said.
“As first responders, utilizing victim services allows our members to focus on priority issues.”
Rowe asked Town director of finance Ian Poole to make a note of the funding request for future budget considerations, but said the matter would have to be left there for the time being.
