Long wait for victim services 'just feels disrespectful,' says mom of Winnipeg teen attacked with machete
After weeks without answers to questions, Victim Services contacted mother following CBC inquiries
A Winnipeg mother whose son was brutally attacked with a machete this past summer says she's upset about a lack of communication from a support program designed to help victims of crime.
Meghan Smart's son qualifies for Manitoba's compensation for victims of crime program, which provides compensation — such as coverage for expenses — to victims injured in certain crimes.
But she said she waited weeks for any kind of reply to her questions about the program, leaving her unsure what costs would be covered.
"It's been almost three or four weeks now since I've heard anything from them. And I've sent numerous emails, as well as phone calls," Smart told CBC on Tuesday. She applied for the program while her 15-year-old son was in the hospital after the August attack.
"Not even a yes or no, or, 'here's the things we can help with, you can go forward and get more receipts' or something. It's just complete silence."
After CBC contacted the province and the Victim Services department, Smart said the program reached out to her on Wednesday, apologizing for the delay and saying it is able to cover most of her expenses.
While she still believes there are gaps in the system, she said she's relieved to have some answers, after waiting in limbo for almost a month.
Smart said her son had injuries from head to toe after the August assault. He got stitches and staples, and was worked on by three different teams of surgeons to help repair damage to his hands and nerves, and scarring on his face.
Smart had to buy a new bed and a bath chair so her son could recover at home.
He's had multiple appointments for physiotherapy and wound care at the hospital, and Smart had to take time off work to keep up with the busy schedule.
Shortly after the incident, Smart started an online fundraiser for her son, to help cover some of the costs in the early weeks of his recovery. She said support from it tapered off recently, but there are still a lot of things they need help with.
The lack of communication from the victims' compensation program until this week "just feels disrespectful," said Smart.
"You're already going through the worst time of your life, you know, trying to even keep your own mind straight, and on top of everything, just to find that there's no real support is really disappointing."
Province hopes to improve the program
Manitoba Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said the high-profile machete attack, in which another 15-year-old and a 14-year-old were charged, played a role in prompting his government to introduce legislation that restricts access to machetes in Manitoba.
His government is looking into how it can speed up the process of getting compensation for victims of crime, he said.
"Already we've taken the steps to double the number of adjudicators [for the victims' compensation program] from three to six in the last six months," Wiebe said, and the province is looking at how to simplify the application process.
Smart said while she's relieved to have answers, she wants the province to address the gaps in its system so other victims aren't left waiting for help.
"There are other people out there, I'm sure, that are going through the same situation that I am. I'm just hoping going forward that it can help [Victim Services] to at least help other victims, and be more on top of things and be more considerate," she said.
