St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Canadians deserve to be safe in their communities. That's why the Government of Canada has a comprehensive plan that gets guns off our streets and resources into our neighborhoods. A central part of this involves adding resources to fight crime and prevent violence from happening in the first place.
Today, the Honourable Helena Jaczek, Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Member of Parliament for Markham-Stouffville, announced, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, that the Government of Canada will be investing $3.57 million in programs to help stop gun crime and gang violence before it starts. The Government will provide this funding over the next five years to Newfoundland and Labrador to support a variety of initiatives, including support for law enforcement and prevention programs.
The amount announced today comes from the $390 million funding announcement made on May 8, 2023. This funding builds on the success of the initial Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV), announced in 2017. ITAAAGGV funding has been used by provinces for an array of important efforts to combat gun and gang violence. Quebec has used it for Operation Centaur, a province-wide initiative that reinforces police with specialized units, disrupts firearms trafficking and prevents crime. In British Columbia, funding supports the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, a dedicated police agency to fight gun smuggling, drug trafficking and other forms of organized crime.
No single program or initiative can tackle the challenge of gun crime on its own. ITAAGGV is one of many elements in the government's plan to keep Canadians safe. This begins with strong borders, where the government has invested nearly half a billion dollars in border security, and deepened cooperation with the United States to fight gun smuggling. It also includes legislation, headlined by Bill C-21, the government's strongest legislation combatting gun violence, and upcoming bail reform. Finally, it involves strong prevention strategies, such as the major investments announced today.
