Ontario Increasing Supports to Improve Community Safety in Eastern Ontario

Over $1.2 million will help local police to focus efforts on supporting victims, fighting crime and keeping people safe

The Ontario government is investing more than $1.2 million to provide Eastern Ontario police services with significant new resources to safeguard people and our communities through the Community Safety and Policing (CSP) Grant Program and the Victim Support Grant (VSG) program.

“Our government is taking action to provide our police services and community partners with the resources they need to protect victims and fight crime,” said Steve Clark, MPP for Leeds—Grenville—Thousand Islands and Rideau Lakes. “Through the Community Safety and Policing Grant and the Victim Support Grant programs, we are investing in local solutions to priority issues, and keep our communities safe.”

Through the CSP Grant program, Ontario is investing $267 million over three years to 90 police service boards across the province for 147 public safety initiatives focusing on local and provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions and hate-motivated crime. Many projects will be undertaken in collaboration with community partners.

Through the CSP Grant program, the following police services are receiving funding to support local programs:

Gananoque Police Services Board: $246,762 for “Leading the Way to Combatting Gang Violence and Sex-related Crimes in Our Community: A Gananoque Police Service Policing Initiative”
Gananoque Police Services Board: $182,679 for “Leading the Way 2.0: A Contemporary Community Policing Initiative in Gananoque Ontario”
Brockville Police Services Board: $388,702 for “Strengthening our Capacity to Combat Crime: A Brockville Community Policing Initiative”
Brockville Police Services Board: $168,626 for “A Contemporary Brockville Community Policing Initiative”
Prescott Police Services Board: $84,313 for “Mobile Crisis Response Team”

The Ontario government is also investing $5 million over two years to enhance services and supports available to victims of intimate partner violence and human trafficking through the new Victim Support Grant (VSG) program. The grant will help police and communities improve services to help meet victims’ needs.

Through the VSG program, the Gananoque Police Service is receiving $133,106 for “Making a Difference: A Community Victim Support Initiative in Gananoque Ontario.”

VSG applicants are required to work in collaboration with one other relevant organization, community agency or Indigenous community with expertise in supporting victims and survivors through a different sector such as justice, housing, education, health/mental health, community and social services, and children and youth services. The VSG program builds on other government programs and services offered to victims and survivors of intimate partner violence and human trafficking. It also complements the province’s $307-million Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy 2020-2025 and recently passed Combating Human Trafficking Act, 2021, which aims to support survivors, protect victims and hold offenders accountable.

“Community safety is a top priority, and our government has been strengthening our justice system to protect communities and hold offenders accountable,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “These investments are another way we are helping police services address local challenges and improve the well-being of the people they serve. Whether to combat intimate partner violence and human trafficking, respond to people experiencing a mental health or addictions crisis, or share intelligence, this funding will make a difference in all corners of Ontario.”

QUICK FACTS

CSP grant funding will be allocated over a three-year period: 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 to recipients and projects listed here.
helps police services address priority issues identified in their communities such as expanding mental health supports, preventing crime in schools and combatting cyber-crime. It also addresses provincewide priorities which are:

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ontario’s community safety grant programs and initiatives that help address local crime and complex social issues to protect the well-being of communities.