Proposed Law Could Direct Criminal Fines to Support Community Groups

A new federal law proposed by Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe aims to enable judges in Canada to allocate criminal fines directly to community outreach organizations. This private member’s bill, known as Bill C-238, would allow judges to direct restitution payments to charities specifically working to combat issues such as homelessness, addiction, and human trafficking.

The initiative emerged during a trial involving a man accused of operating a local prostitution ring. Cristina Scarpellini, founder of Angels of Hope Against Human Trafficking in Sudbury, highlighted the need for such a measure after hearing from a survivor who questioned why the profits from exploitation were not redirected to support victims and local organizations. The survivor expressed a sense of justice but also a lingering frustration: “Where’s all my money that I made him? Why’s he allowed to keep that?”

The proposed law comes at a critical time for organizations like the Go-Give Project, which addresses homelessness and addiction in Sudbury. Executive Director Evie Ali noted that her organization faces potential service cuts due to funding shortages. She emphasized the importance of targeting large-scale drug traffickers, saying, “We’re looking at those that are really profiting off of crimes. The money that is being filtered through northern Ontario alone right now is incredible on the drug front.”

While it remains unclear how much restitution is currently ordered by judges across Canada, Lapointe acknowledged that tracking these figures is challenging. She has faced questions about whether charities should receive direct funding from the government instead of relying on court-ordered restitution. Yet, she believes both funding streams are crucial: “I see it as every amount of funding that we can get is very important.”

Judges already possess the legal authority to grant restitution to charities, but Lapointe noted that this practice is rare. Her bill aims to clarify how community costs are defined, potentially encouraging greater use of this option.

Bill C-238 is scheduled for a third reading in February 2024, and Lapointe is optimistic that it will proceed to a parliamentary committee for further refinement. This legislative effort could significantly impact community organizations that rely on financial support to aid vulnerable populations affected by crime.