Ottawa finally appoints new ombudsman for victims of crime

OTTAWA — The federal government is calling on an internationally renowned expert in the field of victimology to take over as ombudsman for victims’ rights in Canada.

Benjamin Roebuck replaces Heidi Illingworth as Federal Ombudsman for Victims of Crime.

He spent more than 15 years working as a researcher and educator on victims’ rights, notably at Algonquin College, in Ottawa, where he has been a professor since 2010.

Ms Illingworth slammed the government before she left office last October, saying there had been no meaningful effort to inform victims of their rights or hold the system accountable for its failures.

The Justice Department has also been criticized for leaving the post vacant for nearly a year and only launching an application process in late February.

The office was created in 2007 with a mandate to support and advocate for victims, including making recommendations to the federal government.