Government of Canada helps community in Westmount protect against hate-motivated crimes

News release

March 11, 2019 

Montreal, Quebec

Canadians have the right to be free to practise their faith and culture without fear. That’s why the Government of Canada helps communities implement measures to protect against hate-motivated crimes through the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).

Today, the Minister of Transport, the Honourable Marc Garneau, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced over $26,000 in federal funding to the Congregation Shaar Hashomayim under the program.

This funding will support security infrastructure upgrades so that Westmount’s Jewish community is free to practise their activities peacefully. The upgrades include the installation of a closed-circuit surveillance system with 34 cameras.

In 2017, the Government of Canada doubled SIP investments by committing additional funding of $5 million over five years, for a total investment of up to $10 million until 2022. Each year, $2 million will be available to support not-for-profit organizations to make needed security improvements.

Quotes

“Acts of intolerance do not reflect our Canadian values of acceptance, diversity and inclusion. Regardless of our backgrounds, we should all feel safe – where we live, work, gather and pray. The Security Infrastructure Program is an important initiative to help protect all Canadians’ right to be free to practise their faith and culture without fear. There is no social licence for hate, not in Canada.”

—    The Honourable Marc Garneau, Minister of Transport

“The Shaar is an integral part of the Westmount and Greater Montreal community, and we are grateful for the strong relationships we have developed with all levels of government and community organizations. In a climate of widespread and pervasive concern over random acts of anti-Semitism, our goal is to ensure that our members, students, staff, visitors, and neighbours are always well protected. An integrated video camera surveillance system will significantly increase the safety and security of our Shaar family.”

—    Claire Berger, President, Congregation Shaar Hashomayim

Quick facts

  • SIP 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 per cent of total project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 per project.

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

Associated links

Contacts

Scott Bardsley
Manager of Media and Communications
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

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