Government of Canada provides Yukon with $2.2 million to help prevent and combat gun and gang violence Français
WHITEHORSE, March 6, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadians, no matter where they live, must feel safe in their communities. This is why the Government is investing in the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence.
Today, Member of Parliament Larry Bagnell, on behalf of the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, the Honourable Bill Blair, announced $2,250,735 in funding for work in Yukon aimed at increasing prevention, disruption, awareness and understanding of gun and gang violence in the territory.
Yukon will receive the funding over five years. It will seek to build community capacity and partnerships, as well as adopt integrated approaches between different levels of government, the community, First Nations, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and territorial law enforcement.
The territory will use the funding to support several activities, including adding investigative intelligence to Yukon's Safe Communities and Neighbourhoods Unit, creating new capacity at Whitehorse Correctional Centre, and implementing a Joint Territorial Intelligence Unit to share information on criminal threats across different levels of law enforcement.
Quotes
"We strive to keep Canadians safe every day and the Government of Canada recognizes the need for assistance in communities facing increased gun and gang violence. By better understanding and taking action to address the root causes of criminal activity we improve public safety. This will make meaningful and positive differences for our communities."
- The Honourable Bill Blair, Minister of Border Services and Organized Crime Reduction
"Protecting Canadians is the top priority for the Government of Canada. Today's announcement ensures all orders of government are working together, with our local communities, to prevent crime and keep our young people out of gangs. I thank the territorial government for their leadership and I look forward to working with all partners to keep our communities safe."
- Larry Bagnell, MP for Yukon
"Our government is committed to ensuring all Yukoners throughout the territory are safe and protected. This federal funding will allow us to enhance our understanding of gun and gang violence in Yukon while building partnerships with different levels of government, First Nations, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and the community to improve enforcement."
- The Honourable Tracy-Anne McPhee, Yukon Minister of Justice
Quick Facts
- The Government of Canada invested $327.6 million over five years to help support a variety of initiatives to reduce gun crime and criminal gang activities under the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence.
- From the $327.6 million, $214 million will be made available to the provinces and territories through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund over a period of five years. Through this fund, over the full five years, Yukon will receive a total of $2.25 million.
- The Government of Canada also invested an additional $8 million over the next four years in the Youth Gang Prevention Fund beginning in 2019 under the National Crime Prevention Strategy as part of its commitment to community funding under the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence.
Associated Links
- Gun and Gang Violence
- Federal funding to tackle gun violence and gang activity
- National Crime Prevention Strategy
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For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
Marie-Emmanuelle Cadieux, Communications Advisor, Office of the Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction, [email protected]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [email protected]
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