North's victim services overwhelmed: ombudsman

Canada's ombudsman for victims of crime says he will recommend the federal government provide more resources for victims in the North and the people trying to help them.

Steve Sullivan spent three days at a conference in Yellowknife, where participants from across the North learned about the justice system and strategies for working with vulnerable victims of abuse and crime.

The challenges faced by victim services workers in the North are overwhelming, Sullivan said Friday.

"I'm not able to go back with a list for the federal government and say, 'here's how you're going to fix the problem,' " Sullivan said.

But more resources and training would be a good start, he said.

"Giving communities the capacity to provide support to victims and more support workers, I think, is essential."

Harold Cook, a witness co-ordinator in the Northwest Territories, who meets with victims before they testify in court, said he'd like to see improvements in how victims are treated.

"The accused in a courtroom sometimes gazes and make gestures to the victims or the witnesses who are testifying," Cook said.

He said tools such as video conferencing might lessen the trauma to victims because they wouldn't have to face people in the courtroom, which can be particularly difficult in small communities.

Cook said that courtrooms in small and remote communities are often packed because "it's the only action in town."