Harper administration invests $50M to prevent juvenile crime

By P.A.Sévigny, September 19th, 2012

The federal government has committed to spend up to $10 M per year over the next five years on assorted crime prevention programs designed to help Canada’s teens stay out of trouble while the police keep up the fight against the rise of common street gangs across the nation.
“The Harper government is determined to keep both our communities and our streets safe,” said Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu. “Juvenile crimes and violence are serious concerns for many Canadian families and their communities which is why I am happy to announce …that we have decided to invest in community-based projects that will help those who are most at risk of being future criminal offenders.”
During last week’s Thursday afternoon  press conference, the senator told the city’s assembled media that the government is determined to provide local community groups with all the money they need to help prevent thousands of young people from taking up a criminal lifestyle. While the program’s priorities includes a number of initiatives aimed at preventing violence among juveniles who are anywhere between 12 and 17 years old, they also include several measures designed to provide acceptable options for the children from the nation’s assorted aboriginal communities. And aside from the government’s efforts to prevent school-based bullying, the senator also mentioned that the Harper administration is determined to fight the growing influence of urban street gangs who continue to prey upon disaffected teens for sex, fun and profit.
While the government’s new crime-prevention program will fall under the authority of Public Safety Canada, the initiative will now be known as the National Crime Prevention Strategy through which organized community groups throughout the country will be able to apply for the funds they need to operate their programs. While program authorities have yet to decide what they are going to do with the $10 Million (per year) that has already been reserved for Québec, program authorities did mention that community groups will have to get busy because they must complete their applications for funding before the October 25 deadline. Project activities eligible for funding include start-up activities that include the hiring and training of staff along with leased equipment and assorted rental fees for workspace and other facilities.  Other eligible activities include assorted outreach initiatives along with expenses incurred in order to develop the various protocols that will be used to select candidates who are willing to participate in the new programs.n