Federal Government Provides Millions in Funding to Combat Gun and Gang Violence in Ontario

The provincial government, with funding from the federal government, has recently announced new plans to tackle gun and gang violence in Ontario.

The provincial government, with funding from the federal government, has recently announced new plans to tackle gun and gang violence in Ontario.

In a news conference on Monday afternoon, it was announced that the province will fight violent crime by investing in a number of new initiatives and providing new resources and tools to local police.

“For Ontario to grow and prosper, people must feel safe in their homes and their communities,” said Attorney General Doug Downey.

We’re committed to fighting gun violence and dismantling gangs across Ontario. That’s why we’re providing police with the tools they need to take violent criminals off our streets. Learn more: https://t.co/xYGbj3Y01J @ONAttorneyGen pic.twitter.com/v1RQ2dTQ4a

— Ministry of the Solicitor General (@ONsafety) August 26, 2019

“Our government is committed to disrupting the drug, gun, and human trafficking that is fuelling gang operations across the province and threatening the safety of families and neighbourhoods.”

The federal government is providing the province with $65 million over five years to fund the following initiatives, as outlined by the report:

• Combat human trafficking, including enhancements to survivor supports, investments in dedicated prosecution resources, and future enhancements to the Safer and Vital Communities Grant Program.
• Create a new Intensive Firearm Bail Team in Peel to support bail hearings and proceedings for gun-related offences in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
• Establish a GTA/Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) Gun and Gang Fund, focused on supporting projects and partnerships in the GTA and GGH, including Toronto, Durham Regional, Halton Regional, Peel Regional, York Regional, Niagara Regional and Hamilton Police Services.
• Create a new Eastern Ontario Gun and Gang Team that will work closely with the Ottawa Police Service. The East Region team is staffed with four Assistant Crown Attorneys, who will provide prosecutorial support for complex investigative projects and an intensive firearms and gang-specific bail strategy.

“Criminals don’t respect geographic boundaries,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “That’s why our government is committed to fighting illegal guns and gangs province-wide and ensuring dangerous criminals who commit offences end up where they belong — behind bars.”

Ontario will also dedicate additional funding to extend initiatives that it began implementing earlier this year, including the Provincial Gun and Gang Support Unit and the dedicated Gun and Gang Specialized Investigations Fund.

To learn more about what the province is doing to tackle these issues, click here.

What are your thoughts on these new initiatives?