VANCOUVER, March 29, 2005 -- The Honourable Raymond Chan, Minister of State (Multiculturalism), and Chief Edgar McLeod, President of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police (CACP), today officially launched the Law Enforcement Aboriginal and Diversity (LEAD) Network. This joint initiative, established in partnership with law enforcement agencies across Canada, will encourage multicultural groups, Aboriginal communities, and police services to build strong relationships and work together to make our communities safe and secure.The LEAD Network is part of the Action Plan Against Racism announced last week by the Government of Canada. It is a cooperative concept that evolved out of the National Forum on Policing in a Multicultural Society which took place in 2003."The LEAD Network is a fine example of the partnership that exists between the federal government and Canada's police services," said Minister of State Chan. "We must ensure that all Canadians, regardless of their ethnocultural or religious background, live in a safe and secure environment. The LEAD Network is one of a number of important projects that make up the Action Plan against Racism -- the first ever government-wide approach in the fight against racism." The Multiculturalism Program at the Department of Canadian Heritage will provide the LEAD Network with $1.15 million of a $2.2 million budget over five years, ending in fall 2009. Through the LEAD Network, CACP is committed to providing additional resource support through in-kind contributions, and through funding from participating police services and other levels of government."The LEAD Network will help sensitize police officers to the needs of Canada's Aboriginal, diverse ethnocultural and religious communities. It will help them to serve these communities with a sense of openness and respect -- an approach that will contribute to the overall safety and security of these communities," said Chief McLeod. "We also invite these communities to participate in this initiative.""The LEAD Network will provide a forum for officers to discuss procedures, establish links in the community, devise a Canadian training program, set up a Web site and an electronic newsletter, and conduct research," said Deputy Chief of the Ottawa Police Service and chair of the LEAD Network Steering Committee, Larry Hill.Police services who are represented on the LEAD Network Steering and Working committees include Halifax Regional Police, Montreal Urban Community Police, Sûreté du Québec, Ottawa Police Service, Nishnawbe-Aski Police Service, Toronto Police Service, Halton Regional Police Service, Hamilton Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, Winnipeg Police Service, Regina Police Service, Calgary Police Service, Vancouver Police Service, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Dr. William Beahen is the program director for the LEAD Network. He served with the RCMP for more than 25 years."The LEAD Network is an exciting project which has already sparked widespread interest from police agencies and from representatives of Aboriginal and other diverse communities," said Dr. Beahen. "When these groups strengthen their links of friendship and trust, all Canadians will benefit."Funding announced today was provided for in the February 2005 federal budget.Information:Roy BornmannOffice of the Minister of State(Multiculturalism)(819) 997-9900Myriam BrochuChief, Media RelationsCanadian Heritage(819) 997-9314
