The Canadian and Yukon governments on Saturday announced another $627,000 to help victims of crime in the territory.
The money adds to the $1.5 million territorial dollars already allocated to the Yukon’s Victims of Crime Strategy.
Federal Public Safety Minister Vic Toews was in Whitehorse for the joint announcement with Yukon MP Ryan Leef and Yukon Justice Minister Mike Nixon.
“Our government is committed to helping victims of crime. Today, we are improving access to the services and programs victims need while they navigate the criminal justice system,” Toews said in a release.
“We recognize that residents of the North experience an overall crime rate that is much higher than the national average,” said Yukon MP Ryan Leef.
Leef said the $300,000 of the announced funding will be directed at helping youth victims and the witnesses of violent crime by delivering an emergency fund that victims can access immediately after a crime happens.
The money will help hire more victim service workers and part-time administrative support staff in Watson Lake, said Nixon.
“All Yukon communities have victim service workers who are assigned to travel to those communities,” said Nixon.
The money will also be used to develop policy and research ways to increase the response to victims of crime and help support collaborative services for child and youth victims and witnesses of crimes.
The Yukon government will also contribute $75,000 to help deliver and promote its victim services programs in the territory, said Nixon.