Minister MacKay and Parliamentary Secretary Dechert Announce Government Support to Help Reduce Youth Violence

News Release

Funding support to help youth grow and contribute to their communities

March 27, 2014 – Toronto, ON – Justice Canada

Today, Justice Minister Peter MacKay and Parliamentary Secretary Bob Dechert announced $499,335 in funding to the For Youth Initiative in Toronto. The funding will support a three-year project that will provide intensive reintegration support for youth in the criminal justice system who are involved in gangs or gun violence, and give them tools to grow and become more productive members of their communities.

This funding is one of the latest federal government actions taken under the Youth Justice Initiative, which encourages a fair and effective youth justice system, responds to emerging youth justice issues, and enables greater citizen and community participation in the youth justice system, thereby promoting a holistic approach to helping youth.

Quick Facts

The Building Lives On Community Cohesion (B.L.O.C.C.) project is a three-year project that will help young offenders involved in gangs or gun violence reintegrate into society and their communities.
Each participating youth will receive support over the course of one year in four key areas to reduce factors leading to violence:
- economic opportunities;
- educational attainment;
- family well-being; and
- reduction of social isolation.
Youth will be selected through referrals from local police, probation officers and Toronto community housing engagement workers.
$499,335 is being provided over three fiscal years – 2014-15, 2015-2016 and 2016-17.
The funding is being provided through the Youth Justice Fund's Guns, Gangs and Drugs component, which responds to youth involved in the justice system who are involved in, or vulnerable to, gun-, gang- and drug-related activities.

Quotes

"Making our streets and communities safer means ensuring that youth who are in conflict with the law are given the tools and the opportunities they need to grow and become productive members not only of their communities, but also of Canadian society. Our Government is proud to support initiatives like this that embrace a holistic approach to improving the justice system's ability to rehabilitate and reintegrate young offenders by increasing their safety and leadership potential and ensuring they have the ability to contribute in a positive manner to their communities."

Peter MacKay
Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"By supporting the work of organizations like the For Youth Initiative, we are ensuring youth in Toronto are empowered to improve their lives and contribute to keeping our communities safe. We are proud to count on partners like this across Canada and their expertise to help rehabilitate youth who have been in conflict with the law."

Bob Dechert
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice

"This program will serve the most marginalized, highest-risk youth in York South Weston and the Greater Toronto Area by supporting them in these four key areas. Our goal is to help them have hope for the future."

Lekan Olawoye
Executive Director of For Youth Initiative

Associated Links

Contacts

Paloma Aguilar
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Justice
613-992-4621
Media Relations
Department of Justice
613-957-4207

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Minister MacKay and Parliamentary Secretary Dechert Announce Government Support to Help Reduce Youth Violence

News Release

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