Ontario Investing $399,000 to Fight Back Against Crime in Ottawa
May 26, 2026
Cash and proceeds seized from criminals will help support victims and prevent crime
NEWS
OTTAWA – To help support victims and prevent crime, the Ontario government is allocating up to $199,700 for Family Services Ottawa and up to $199,400 for Ottawa Victim Services. The funding is being provided through the Civil Remedies Grant Program.
Funding for Family Services Ottawa will support the “Youth Voices for Respect and Prevention” program which will train youth peer educators to lead workshops focused on healthy relationships and intimate partner violence prevention, including how to safely support peers, access resources, and build bystander skills.
Funding for Ottawa Victim Services will support “Augmenting Post-Incident Neighbourhood Support (PINS) for Safe Passage: A Trauma-Informed Community Partnership,” which will hire a crisis counsellor to provide on-site support to victims of intimate partner and family violence, hate crimes, and gun and gang violence. Healing gatherings, outreach events, and community safety responses in Ottawa neighbourhoods will also be supported through this initiative.
“This funding will help strengthen community safety across Carleton and Ottawa by supporting victims and investing in programs that work to prevent crime before it happens,” said George Darouze, MPP for Carleton. “By supporting frontline organizations and local initiatives, we are helping build safer communities, providing support to those impacted by crime, and creating positive opportunities for individuals and families.”
Through the 2026-28 Civil Remedies Grant Program, Ontario is allocating $5 million in cash and proceeds seized from criminals to help 27 law enforcement agencies and community and Indigenous organizations fight crime and strengthen public safety across the province.
“Our government is protecting Ontario by using every available tool, including civil forfeiture, to help police and community partners confront and dismantle criminal networks that prey on our communities,” said Attorney General Doug Downey. “Crime should never pay, and these seized funds will help communities support victims of crime and break the cycle of offending.”
Funding through the Civil Remedies Grant Program is provided through the forfeiture of property or money that has been used for or results from crime.
QUICK FACTS
- In 2021, Ontario reinvested $1.5 million in cash and proceeds seized from criminals to support 18 community projects focused on helping victims of crime and strengthening local crime prevention.
- Through the Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, the Keeping Criminals Behind Bars Act and related measures, Ontario is keeping communities safe and protecting victims of crime.
- Ontario is investing over $2.3 million over three years to expand access to the Independent Legal Advice program which provides free legal advice to victims of sexual assault, human trafficking, intimate partner violence and other sexual offences.
- Ontario is protecting young victims and witnesses of crime by investing $4.2 million to expand the Child Victim Witness Program to seven new communities.
- The Civil Remedies Grant Program is funded exclusively by assets seized and sold through the Civil and Administrative Forfeiture Program, including vehicles, luxury handbags, jewelry, cash and real estate.
QUOTES
“We are grateful for the Ministry of the Attorney General’s investment in Youth Voices for Respect and Prevention. This 2026-28 Civil Remedies Grant will enable Family Services Ottawa to invest directly in youth‑led prevention and early intervention at a critical time, strengthening efforts to reach youth earlier and reduce the likelihood of future harm and crisis involvement. Through this initiative, youth peer educators will be trained and mentored to engage other young people in building healthy, respectful relationships. By equipping youth with the knowledge and skills to recognize and respond to unhealthy or abusive relationships, the project helps prevent intimate partner violence while expanding access to trauma‑informed counselling and supports within the community. Over two years, the initiative will engage more than 1,000 youth annually through peer‑led workshops, public education campaigns, mentorship, and direct pathways to counselling and support – building youth leadership, strengthening prevention, and fostering safer, more respectful peer communities.”
– Rebecca Fromowitz, Associate Executive Director, Family Services Ottawa
“At Ottawa Victim Services, our mission is to provide compassionate and trauma-informed support to individuals and communities impacted by crime and tragic circumstances. This funding allows us to expand timely crisis response, counselling, community healing supports, and referral networks for those affected by violence, including gender-based violence and hate-motivated incidents, through enhanced collaboration with the Post-Incident Neighbourhood Support (PINS) framework. This project will help build safer and more resilient neighbourhoods across Ottawa by ensuring victims and impacted residents receive follow-up care and culturally-responsive supports in the aftermath of serious incidents. We are very grateful to the Ministry of the Attorney General for funding this important initiative and for their shared commitment to this work.”
– Heidi Illingworth, Executive Director, Ottawa Victim Services
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
-30-
MEDIA CONTACT
Office of George Darouze, MPP – Carleton
1128 Mill St. Manotick, ON K4M 1A2
Tel.: 613-838-4425
george.darouze@pc.ola.org