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Tories axe ombudsman for victims of crime Sullivan told to start ‘career planning’ as term ends Canada’s first watchdog for crime victims has himself become a victim of job loss. Steve Sullivan said he was surprised to receive a letter from the Harper government advising him to “start career planning as soon as possible” because his three-year term will not be renewed when it expires on April 24. The longtime advocate for victims’ rights said he always thought he clicked with the Conservative government and that several of his recommendations have been adopted. Sullivan was appointed in April 2007 as the first federal ombudsman for crime victims. He had been president of the National Resource Centre for Victims of Crime for nine years before his appointment to the $125,000-ayear post. His job as head of the nine-person off ice is to help victims tap into existing federal services, promote the needs of victims within the justice system and government, review complaints and identify victims’ issues. The government also refused late last year to renew the appointments
of Peter Tinsley, the former chair of the Military Police Complaints Commission,
and Paul Kennedy, the head of the RCMP public complaints commission.
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