Cash seized from criminals will help local partners support victims and prevent crime.
The Ontario Government is investing $64,300 to support Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking’s Northeastern Ontario Youth Compassion Groups and Human Trafficking Workshops.
Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking supports survivors of human trafficking and sexual exploitation, while guiding them along their road to recovery.
The Civil Remedies grant program funding will help develop innovative bilingual human trafficking and sexual exploitation prevention and awareness workshops for at-risk youth aged nine to 17 in urban and rural Northeastern Ontario.
The grant is part of a $1.5-million reinvestment of cash and proceeds seized from criminals to
help local partners fight back against crime and victimization that threaten their communities.
“Crime should never pay, and these seized funds will help communities support victims of crime
and fight back to break the cycle of offending,” said Nipissing MPP Vic Fedeli.
“Our government is committed to strengthening every available tool, including civil forfeiture, to
help police, prosecutors and local partners confront and dismantle the criminal networks that
prey on our communities,” said Attorney General Doug Downey.
Changes to strengthen the Civil Remedies Act passed under the 2020 Smarter and Stronger
Justice Act allow personal property, such as cash or cars used by criminals for illegal activities,
to be forfeited without a court order in cases where no interested person disputes the forfeiture.
Eligible applicants for the Civil Remedies grant program include Ontario and First Nations
Police Services, not-for-profit groups, community agencies and Indigenous communities and
organizations that help victims of crime or help to prevent crime.