To allow Victim Services in Smithers and the province some guaranteed funding, council will be sharing a recommendation this Wednesday with the North Central Local Government Association at their AGM in Dawson Creek. Currently municipalities cover 50 per cent of the cost voluntarily while the province covers the rest.
The RCMP-based service helps crime and trauma victims.
Council wants to see that mandatory.
“Were asking the provincial government to make it legislation,” says Councillor Phil Brieneesse. “Right now the village of Telkwa contributes a very small amount and the town of Smithers contributes a lion’s share and the regional district contributes nothing. So it’s very inequitable.”
He says ideally the funding should come out of municipal budgets much like other essential services. Council agrees having funding voluntary causes gaps and disparity for Victims Services across the province.