Montreal, July 4, 2007 -Today the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, along with Guy Ouellette, Parliamentary assistant to the Quebec Minister of Public Security, announced that Canada's New Government is providing $6.8 million for 27 crime prevention initiatives in local communities across the province of Quebec."Canada's New Government is serious about keeping our communities safe, which is why we are focusing on what works. With this funding, we are supporting projects that demonstrate positive results for those who are most at risk," said Minister Day. "We will continue to work with the province of Quebec, stakeholders and communities to develop projects that respond to local needs." "The Government of Quebec is proud to be involved in this major investment in crime prevention, which will support 27 projects that are in keeping with the Government's priority of taking concrete action to focus on our young people," said Mr. Ouellette. "Helping those on the ground who work with our young people each and every day, providing them with the support and the tools they need in order to make wise choices, is critical." Crime prevention efforts are focused on priorities established in partnership with stakeholders, using careful analysis of key crime trends. Priorities for funding support include:addressing early risk factors among vulnerable families, children and youth at risk; responding to priority crime issues (youth gangs, drugs-related crime); preventing recidivism among high risk groups; and fostering prevention in Aboriginal communities. As part of Public Safety Canada, the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) provides funding to strategically selected projects that contribute to preventing and reducing crime in Canada and to increasing knowledge about what works in crime prevention. The $6.8 million announced today is part of Canada's New Government commitment to fund Crime Prevention and Youth at Risk proposals that result in local solutions to local crime prevention issues. Community organizations who have submitted or will be submitting proposals are encouraged to continue working closely with the NCPC. See also:BackgrounderInformation:Media RelationsPublic Safety Canada613-991-0657Mélisa LeclercDirector of CommunicationsOffice of the Honourable Stockwell DayMinister of Public Safety 613-991-2863Philippe ArchambaultPress secretaryOffice of the Minister Jacques P. DupuisMinister of Justice and Minister of Public Security of Quebec418-643-4210
