Today, the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage, on behalf of the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced just over $29,000 in federal funding to the Centre communautaire Laurentien under the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).

“Recent incidents are a jarring reminder that the inclusive and generous Canada we all want is now, and ever will be, a precious and delicate work-in-progress that we dare not take for granted. The Security Infrastructure Program is an important initiative to help protect all Canadians' right to be free to practice their faith and culture without fear. There is no social license for hate, not in Canada.”

—     The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

“Acts of intolerance do not reflect the Canadian values that we hold dear - those of acceptance, diversity and inclusion.   The enhanced security measures that have been funded through the Security Infrastructure Program mean greater peace of mind, and a safer and more secure facility, for members of this community.

—    The Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of Canadian Heritage

“Investing in the security infrastructure is an important step to create safe community spaces. The federal government through the SIP program is a key partner in helping many community centers, like ours, achieve this goal.”

—    Abdussalam Nakua, Centre communautaire Laurentien

• The Security Infrastructure Program is designed to help communities at risk of hate-motivated crime improve their security infrastructure, which will help make Canada safer for all Canadians.

• Funding is available to not-for-profit organizations linked to a community at risk of being victimized by hate-motivated crime. Approved projects may receive up to 50% of total project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 per project.

• In December 2016, important improvements were made to make the program more responsive to the needs of communities. This includes considering a wider range of security measures as eligible for funding (for example, improvements both inside and outside facilities) and reaching out to ensure diverse community organizations are aware of the available funding. Additionally, changes to the application process ensure that funding decisions are provided to applicants within four months of the close of each call for proposal.

• Interested organizations representing places of worship, provincially and territorially recognized schools, and community centers can apply from December 1st to January 31st and from June 1st to July 31st through Public Safety Canada’s website.

Associated Links

• Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program

Scott Bardsley
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness
613-998-5681
scott.bardsley@canada.ca

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657
media@ps-sp.gc.ca