Olds town council plans to go to bat for the local victims services office and lobby the province to allow it to continue its work.
The province has been working for the past two years on a plan to regionalize victims services by bringing more than 60 agencies under the umbrella of four regional offices.
Town chief administrative officer Brent Williams said many municipalities and associations representing urban and rural municipalities have spoken out against the move.
Williams said the town has been waiting to see how the province rolled outs its regionalization plans, which were meant to streamline administration and provide a consistent approach to victims services while standardizing financing and programs.
Many in victims services are not opposed to those goals, he added.
However, after two years “it is now administration’s belief those changes have been going on long enough without really any clear direction on how they may work out,” he told council.
“Even though there’s some positive changes in the province’s direction, the lack of clarity, the lack of decision making and the lack of leadership on this file is concerning at best and harmful at worst.
“It’s hard for me to overstate the importance our victims services has in our first responder community in Olds,” he said.
Williams said he does not believe the province’s regionalization plans are meant to harm victims services “but their inaction and lack of clarity is doing exactly that, I would argue.
“And I believe council needs to hear this now and consider a formal stance from the Town of Olds.”
Council voted unanimously to add victims services to its advocacy priority list and lobby government to allow local decision making.
A representative for Chinook Arch Victim’s Services said the organization supports Olds, Didsbury and Sundre RCMP detachments and has been operating for 25 years. The office handles about 500 files a year, with domestic violence the biggest share of cases.
Under the new model, victims services offices will not be allowed to do any of their own fundraising. All funding will come from the Alberta Solicitor General’s office and will be dedicated to providing victims only with help navigating the court system.
Existing victims services units might be able to operate on their own, but they would lose $150,000 in crucial annual provincial funding and their status as the referral agency of choice for victims services.
Olds RCMP Staff Sgt. Warren Wright said when the changeover is complete, RCMP will have to make all referrals to the regional offices.
Several councillors expressed their dismay at the province’s plans.
“This is astounding to me. I just don’t understand the thinking in going this route,” said Coun. Heather Ryan.
Coun. Daly Daley said, “I couldn’t imagine if this service was not available to our citizens the impact it would have.”