With more than 3,000 incidents in the city per year, Thunder Bay has the highest rate domestic violence rate in the province.
At the end of March 2013, funding for the Bail Safety Program, which helps keep victims of domestic violence safe, is set to end.
The Ministry of the Attorney General is considering ending the program, which several municipalities in Ontario use, and this has Thunder Bay Police Service Chief J.P. Levesque concerned.
“It’s very disappointing to hear they’re considering not funding the program anymore,” Levesque said after Tuesday morning’s police services board meeting.
“This program helps keep the victims of domestic violence safe. I think to cut the funding is very shortsighted,” he said, adding the police make between 700 and 800 arrests per year on domestic violence charges.
The program consists of one officer who deals with those 700 to 800 files and keeps victims informed on whether or not the individual who assaulted them has been released or not, and if they have been released, what the conditions of that release are.
The ministry informed police services across Ontario the funding was going to end in September of this year, but because of an uproar over the cut, Levesque said it was extended to March 2013.
Levesque asked the board to write a letter to the ministry asking for continued funding for the Bail Safety Program.
“Our domestic violence rates are very high and this position helps keep the victims safe,” he said.
The police services board also amended the 2013 budget, which was passed in the November meeting.
After some consultation with the board, Levesque said they were able to find some efficiencies within the $35 million budget.
The budget had passed with a 3.8 per cent increase from last year, but that was reduced to a 3.5 per cent increase.
Police services board chairman Joe Virdiramo said he couldn’t give specifics about the savings, but they were able to reduce the budget by $100,000.
