Government of Canada Helps Saskatchewan Fight Gun and Gang Crime With $11 Million

REGINA, Saskatchewan, March 11 -- Public Safety Canada issued the following news release:

When communities are free from gun and gang violence, neighbourhoods are safer, families can thrive, and local economies can prosper. That's why the Government of Canada is investing in smart solutions to stop gun and gang violence in Saskatchewan communities.

Today, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, was joined by the Honourable Christine Tell, Saskatchewan Minister or Corrections and Policing, to announce that the Government of Canada is investing $11.9 million in funding for projects in Saskatchewan aimed at preventing, disrupting, and combatting gun and gang violence.

The province will receive the funding over the next five years to reduce violent crime, make communities safer, and lessen demand on the justice system.

The investment will support key initiatives that will respond to specific needs for the communities, including: the development and enhancement of data systems to expand the ability to collect, analyze and distribute information; reprioritize police resources to target gun and gang crime; develop and deliver prevention initiatives; implement new community outreach programs for high-risk individuals, and enhance resources dedicated to the prosecution of individuals involved in gun and gang crime.

Quotes

"The Government of Canada's greatest responsibility is keeping its citizens safe. Today's announcement demonstrates the seriousness of guns and gangs in our neighbourhoods. By striking at the root of the guns and gangs problem in our communities, and stopping our most vulnerable youth from joining gangs in the first place, we are taking the right steps to make our communities safer."

- The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"Our Government is fully committed to ensuring the safety and security of Saskatchewan families and communities. Reducing gang violence in our communities is an important issue that this funding will help address. By focusing on intervention, suppression, and prevention we can continue to ensure that Saskatchewan's communities are safe to live, work, and raise a family."

- The Honourable Christine Tell, Minster of Corrections and Policing

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, Saskatchewan will receive a total of $11.9 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.