A friend of the parents of one of the young victims of the ram bus attack against the Ste-Rose educational daycare in Laval last winter is sounding the alarm to denounce the conditions of assistance for the victims of criminal acts and their families.
“What they are experiencing is total sadness,” says Josée Bélanger. They are devastated and on top of that, they have to fight with the Crime Victim Compensation (IVAC) program to get crucial care and services, and are worried about the new three-year limit on this assistance. »
Not wanting to speak publicly and living difficult days since the attack in Laval which cost the lives of two young children, Jacob, 4 years old, and Maëva, 5 years old, the parents are suffering the emotional and financial repercussions resulting from this crime.
Mme Bélanger, who speaks with the agreement of the parents of one of the two victims, notes that the couple has been off work since the tragedy, which occurred on the morning of February 8. IVAC pays them 90% of their net salary, payments which will stop after three years.
“Before, it was possible to be compensated for life, it was a doctor who decided. But that changed with the reform of the CAQ in 2021,” says Mme Bélanger.
The IVAC also reimburses certain courses and training, but not others, which harms the finances of families affected by crime.
“For example, the father took courses which are reimbursed by the IVAC. But the mother took other courses, and the IVAC did not agree to reimburse them. It’s always like that. There are always obstacles. You have to fight for everything. »
Mme Bélanger, who is herself an IVAC recipient, also points out that the two other children in the family benefit from 30 meetings with a psychotherapist and that the IVAC only reimburses the fixed sum of $94 per meeting.
“Since the pandemic, psychologists have increased their prices. A session went from $80 to $150. So parents have to pay the difference out of their own pocket. »
All these new expenses impose financial stress on the family, she said, adding that the amount allocated by the IVAC for the death of the child is $64,000.
“That’s what a life is worth in Quebec. It’s worth $64,000. It’s crazy ! », laments Mme Bélanger.
Pierre Ny St-Amand, a 51-year-old bus driver charged with two counts of first-degree murder as well as seven other counts, including attempted murder and aggravated assault, has the right to full services, she denounces.
“He is housed, fed, has access to all services, to great psychiatrists, to medication. All this is paid for. »
It is an “aberration” that a victim of crime, even if she is disabled for life, has her compensation withdrawn after three years, she adds. “And this is true even if your physical or mental condition no longer allows you to work. The IVAC puts obstacles in the way of victims instead of helping them. »
A modification of the IVAC requested
The new terms of the IVAC, the law of which was unanimously adopted in the National Assembly in 2021, will put Quebecers who are victims of criminal acts in a precarious situation, denounces Mme Bélanger, who has just launched a petition entitled “Improvement of the income replacement indemnity for victims of crime” to the National Assembly with the help of the Parti Québécois to try to change the law.
Without modification, there are victims of crime who will end up on social welfare or who will end up on the street.
Josée Bélanger
Élisabeth Gosselin, director of communications in the office of the Minister of Justice, Simon Jolin-Barrette, reports that the government is “deeply upset by the daycare tragedy that occurred last February in Laval and is wholeheartedly with the families affected by the tragedy.”
Without being able to comment on particular cases, Mme Gosselin notes that before the reform of the IVAC in force since October 2021, a parent of a minor child who had lost his life could only be recognized as a victim by the IVAC if the child had been murdered by the other spouse.
“Since the entry into force of the reform, all parents of a minor child who died as a result of a criminal offense are entitled to support services including psychotherapeutic or psychosocial rehabilitation (without limit of sessions), rehabilitation physical, help compensating for loss of income, in particular,” she says.
If, at the end of the three-year period, the parent of a child who has lost his life demonstrates through a health assessment that he has limitations or after-effects which still prevent him from holding a job, he could be eligible for additional financial assistance to compensate for the loss of income for a period of two years, she notes.
“The IVAC plan allows thousands of victims each year to begin a healing process and it constitutes the most generous plan in Canada, all provinces combined. »
Apparent inequities
Marc Bellemare, former Minister of Justice and lawyer specializing in road accidents and victims of crime, notes that the overhaul of the law has caused inequities that are only just beginning to be apparent.
This allows more victims to be accepted, particularly victims of psychological harassment or computer luring. But the victims now have pinottes.
Me Marc Bellemare, lawyer specializing in the field of road accidents and victims of crime
Before, benefits were for life, note Me Bellemare.
“But Minister Jolin-Barrette insisted on reducing that to three years. This is completely arbitrary, with no scientific basis. Three years goes by quickly for someone who is experiencing post-traumatic grief, or who has experienced head trauma. It is the only compensation law in Quebec that is limited in this way. »
The reform came into force in October 2021. Victims of crime will therefore start to lose their payments in 2024, he says. “In October 2024 and 2025, the victims will scream. The cuts will come. »