The federal government is dedicating $50 million annually to support the work of those providing services to victims and survivors of crime.

Federal Justice Minister Sean Fraser says the money will be used to help people working and delivering services on the front lines.

“We want to send a signal to the organizations who are doing the work, that we value the work that they do,” says Fraser. “We believe it helps improve public safety in this country.”

In the meantime, the Justice Committee completed its study of Bill C-16, which would criminalize coercive control over an intimate partner. Fraser says government is open to amendments once the bill goes to clause-by-clause review next week.

He says he’s happy with the bill as initially drafted, but he’s open to strengthening it through multi-partisan consensus that serves the interest of Canadians.

“My only hope,” says Fraser, “is that, as parliamentarians in both the House of Commons and Senate consider the possibility of making amendments, that we don’t use those amendments to delay the implementation of this bill.”