Supporting new sexual violence investigative unit

Release

Department of Justice and Public Safety, Office of Women and Gender Equity

November 03, 2025

SHEDIAC (GNB) – The government is supporting a new sexual violence investigative unit within the New Brunswick RCMP to strengthen investigations, support survivors and improve safety in communities around the province.

The unit’s first office, based at the Courage Centre in Shediac, will open later this year. Additional offices will follow next year in Oromocto and Tracadie, and all will be managed by an office at the RCMP headquarters in Fredericton.

“This new unit is needed now to address the reality that serious cases of sexual violence, including those involving elements of human trafficking, are happening in our province,” said Public Safety Minister Robert Gauvin. “By giving the New Brunswick RCMP specialized tools, expertise and dedicated resources, we can improve investigations, increase successful prosecutions and, most importantly, ensure survivors are treated with dignity and respect.”

The initiative stems from recommendations made in The Way Forward: The RCMP’s sexual assault review and victim support action plan.

“Survivors of sexual violence need a system that supports them at every step,” said Lyne Chantal Boudreau, the minister responsible for women’s equality. “This investment complements the $9.2 million our government announced earlier this year for community-based services, transition houses and outreach. Together, these initiatives strengthen the network of supports that help survivors heal and rebuild their lives.”

The RCMP will staff the new unit with officers trained in a trauma-informed approach to complex sexual violence investigations and sex trafficking.

“The implementation of a sexual violence investigative unit in New Brunswick will have an immediate positive impact on front-line investigators and survivors of sexual violence,” said Assistant Commissioner Matco Sirotic, commanding officer of the RCMP in New Brunswick. “This specialized unit will allow us to focus on the most severe and complex cases, work more closely with partners like the Courage Centre, and build capacity across the province.”

“The RCMP sexual violence investigative unit is the result of the culmination of dedicated community and government service providers, all working to improve the experiences of sexual violence survivors,” said Kristal LeBlanc, CEO of the Courage Centre. “All too often, survivors are left with not only the trauma of the act, but the system-induced trauma caused by having to navigate complex systems to seek justice and safety. This unit will propel our efforts forward to work collaboratively to better serve survivors who deserve to feel safe, understood and believed.”

The government’s $2.8-million investment will also help ensure police have the necessary resources and partnerships to prevent re-victimization, reduce trauma and improve safety for vulnerable populations.

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