Tomorrow the UCP will introduce legislation that will take money from the victims of crime fund - money intended to support victims - and allow it to be used for other purposes. In estimates we heard details of millions being taken from the fund.

Thread 1/ #AbLeg

For decades the victim surcharge has been collected in order to fund services for victims. That money has always been reserved for victims and organizations that serve them. It is the fundamental principle of the fund, but the UCP want to change that. 2/ #ableg

Thousands of dedicated volunteers and support workers throughout the province are supported and trained with that money. They turn up at all hours of the day and night to support their neighbours in their darkest hours. 3/ #AbLeg

Justice and Solicitor general does a number of important things - I would go so far as to say only important things.

But those important things should not be paid for by taking money that rightfully belongs to victims - they are important too. 4/ #AbLeg

Here is an article outlining the importance of the financial benefits program. 5/ #AbLeg https://chatnewstoday.ca/2020/02/28/financial-benefit-program-for-victims-of-violent-crime-being-cut-by-the-province/

On the auditor general’s recommendation we had reviewed the problem and determined several areas that needed more support, and that the fund could sustain that. Some of those increases had gone forward, some of them the UCP seems to have cancelled. 6/ #AbLeg

The programs funded by the victims of crime fund are incredibly important. They do incredible work on very little money. These organizations need more funding, not less.

I am very worried about this change, and the impacts it will have. 7/ #AbLeg

Mostly, this feels like the same old refrain from the UCP - trying to cause different areas to attack each other for funding. Claiming that we can’t pay for police and Crown unless we take from victims... but we have billions to give away to overseas investors. 8/8 #AbLeg