Sudbury gets funding to fight guns and gangs
It was a big funding announcement in front of the YMCA in Sudbury on Tuesday morning as the federal government announced more than $2 million to fight gun and gang violence.
It's part of the $250-million Building Safer Communities Fund in which cities receive funding to support community-led projects to combat violence among young people involved in gangs or at risk of joining them.
"Law enforcement report that gangs from big cities have been expanding into towns and cities across northeastern Ontario, especially in the last five years. This is closely linked with the ongoing poisoned drug crisis," said Sudbury MP Viviane Lapointe.
"Here in Sudbury, crime is going up, in the past few years the crime severity index has spiked," she said.
"Violent crime is even worse and Sudbury isn't alone. In North Bay, police have seized more firearms at this point this year than they did in all of 2021."
Lapointe made the announcement on behalf of Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino, who was unable to attend.
In a Zoom interview later with CTV Northern Ontario, Mendicino outlined out the program is designed to work in conjunction with other pieces of legislation like Bill C-21 and the banning of assault-style weapons.
"It requires a two-pronged approach," he said.
"First we have to continue to Sudbury and the frontline police officers and there are federal programs like the anti-guns and gangs fund, which we provide to the Province of Ontario, which then provides additional support to cities like Sudbury so we can have the necessary resources in place. (Sudbury Police) Chief Pedersen and I talked about that but we also talked about the need to address the problem upstream."
Mendicino said it's that upstream approach that will work in addressing the root cause.
"Looking at the root causes of organized crime, looking at the root cause of gun crime and empowering communities to better immunize the community there, by providing more funding for programs and services," said Mendicino.
The city's mayor, who later met virtually with Mendicino, said the added help is welcome.
"I believe it would be fair to have additional provincial and federal funding in support of our local police services that are working essentially on challenges that are coming from across the province, coming from across the country and even internationally," said Bigger.
Sudbury is only the fourth jurisdiction to receive the funding, after York, Toronto and Six Nations. The city says it is still determining what to do with the funds.
There's no word yet on what other communities in the region will be benefitting from the fund.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Ottawa injects another $36M into vaccine injury compensation fund
The federal government has added $36.4 million to a program designed to support people who have been seriously injured or killed by vaccines since the end of 2020.
'Secret report' or standard research? B.C. government addresses safe supply allegations
B.C.’s premier and one of his top lieutenants are pushing back against allegations by the Official Opposition that he covertly commissioned a report into the diversion of safe supply drugs onto the streets.
Video shows suspects waving weapons, smashing glass in Toronto jewelry store robbery
Arrests have been made after five men were captured on video rampaging through a jewelry store in Toronto, waving weapons and smashing glass display cases.
'My stomach dropped': Winnipeg man speaks out after being criminally harassed following single online date
A Winnipeg man said a single date gone wrong led to years of criminal harassment, false arrests, stress and depression.
She was too sick for a traditional transplant. So she received a pig kidney and a heart pump
Doctors have transplanted a pig kidney into a New Jersey woman who was near death, part of a dramatic pair of surgeries that also stabilized her failing heart.
What Canadians think of the latest Liberal budget
A new poll suggests the Liberals have not won over voters with their latest budget, though there is broad support for their plan to build millions of homes.
opinion Why you should protect your investments by naming a trusted contact person
Appointing a trusted person to help with financial obligations can give you peace of mind. In his personal finance column for CTVNews.ca, Christopher Liew outlines the key benefits of naming a confidant to take over your financial responsibilities, if the need ever arises.
'One of the single most terrifying things ever': Ontario couple among passengers on sinking tour boat in Dominican Republic
A Toronto couple are speaking out about their 'extremely dangerous' experience on board a sinking tour boat in the Dominican Republic last week.
Teacher shortages see some Ontario high school students awarded perfect grades on midterm exams
Students at a high school in York Region have been awarded perfect marks on their midterm exams in three subjects – not because of their academic performances however, but because they had no teacher.