The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Family Services and Housing Minister Christine Melnick and Attorney General Gord Mackintosh have announced a seven-point provincewide action plan to prevent domestic violence, to provide stronger support to victims and to strengthen prosecution against those who commit domestic violent crime. "Our strategy builds on our work over the past five years on domestic violence prevention," said Melnick. "We need to work with our community partners to ensure Manitobans-no matter where they live-feel safe and secure in their own homes and that they are offered protection and support where they are victimized." "We must continue our efforts to be tough on domestic crime and its causes," said Mackintosh. "Crimes against family members strike at the core of our communities and we must work together to ensure we support victims and prosecute those who attack their families." The strategy includes: Supporting A Women's Place by providing $40,000 in funding as well as the services of crown attorneys and victim support worker staff. See 'Support' P.# Con't from P.# The innovative one-stop clinic believed to be the first of its kind in Canada brings together lawyers, social workers and other supports for victims of domestic violence in one location. Expanding specialized domestic violence victim services to 28 communities from five to improve provincewide access beyond major urban centres. Expanding the mandate of victim support service workers to help victims obtain civil protection orders either before or after charges are laid. Helping to establish a new Interlake-Eastman visitation service to provide a safe, neutral place where divorced or separated parents can drop off children for visits to avoid confrontation and potential conflict by providing $17,000 in support. Building stronger prosecutions by establishing a one-prosecutor, one-case system on domestic violence so cases are handled from beginning to end by the same Crown attorney. Investing $131,000 in additional funding for 34 community agencies dealing with domestic violence. Launching an $18,500 public awareness campaign in urban, rural and northern communities. The campaign, "Promises aren't the only things that get broken," reinforces the important message that people can take steps to help end domestic violence in their communities. Funding for a comprehensive range of services now totals $10 million. Over the past five years, funding for Manitobans affected by domestic violence has grown by more than $5 million through both Manitoba Family Services and Housing and Manitoba Justice.
