Crime Prevention Funding Announcement

Speaking Notes for the
Honourable Stockwell Day
Minister of Public Safety

Halifax, Nova Scotia
January 8, 2008
As delivered

Thank you, Chief [Frank Beazley, Chief of Police], for the warm introduction and generous comments. It is a delight to be here. Halifax is one of my favourite cities.

I'm here today to make a funding announcement. I'm also here for the annual meeting of federal, provincial and territorial ministers on emergency management. We are delighted that it is taking place in Halifax.

The situations that we face relate to challenges within the criminal justice system. Our taxpayers and communities want to see work done in this area. For those of us who are involved in areas of public safety, emergency planning and policing, such as your Attorney General who I've met today as well as your mayor, these are elements very close to our hearts.

It is a priority for this Government that our communities, streets and school grounds are safe. That is why we support programs that can help reduce crime. We believe that when it comes to crime in our streets, we cannot be passive.

When I think of some of the different initiatives that you have undertaken over the years, and even more recently, it shows that you are concerned about what is happening at the grass-roots level and on the streets. It is very impressive to hear the people of Nova Scotia talk about the focus that you have on safety and on security.

This Government takes a two-pronged approach to keeping our communities safe.

There is the area of enforcement and that is why, at the federal level, we are well into our commitment of staffing 1,000 more RCMP positions across the country. The expansion of the Depot in Regina where the training takes place is completed. Training and increased recruiting is underway. We have also made a commitment of 2,500 more municipal officers across the country, on a cost-shared program. We have had great discussions on how that can work, and to your Attorney General, I can say this province has been a very significant player in those discussions.

We know that our policing officers need the tools to do the job that citizens are asking them to do. That is why we have a number of initiatives that are dealing specifically with different areas, including that of serious crime and repeat offenders.

You have probably heard about our comprehensive Tackling Crime Bill that is now before the House of Commons. We've pulled together some of the most critical areas where we need to see a reduction in crime. For instance, our Dangerous Offenders Act can help keep serious repeat violent offenders in jail and away from the street where they can harm our citizens again.

We want to see the legislation go through that would impose mandatory jail terms for people who commit crimes with firearms, especially repeat offenders.

And we want to push through our legislation to raise the age of consent between a minor and an adult from 14 years old, as it is right now today — and, one of the lowest in the world — to 16.

Too often now, we are seeing our young people on our street, their lives being ruined by the sale and the manufacture of drugs that are more potent than before. And those whose intention it is to destroy the lives of young people, they need to know that they will serve serious time for that type of serious crime.

So, that is how we are pushing forward on the enforcement side. That's what we call "the long arm of the law."

But we also believe in "the open arms of the community" and that is where many of you come in. Groups that are able to reach out through education programs, awareness programs and preventative programs need to be acknowledged.

You need to be assisted through funding to do what is so necessary in terms of prevention, especially when it involves reaching out to young people at risk. Through these programs, you are able to offer youth at risk alternatives and choices rather than getting into gangs, drugs and other types of criminal activities.

Young people sometimes feel that society doesn't care. They can feel vulnerable and they need to know that there are people who care for them.

That is why through our National Crime Prevention Program, we fund local groups at the local level with programs that work.

Two words govern what we fund: "what works."

If a program works to reduce crime, reaches out to vulnerable young people and families at risk and reduces the rates of recidivism, then we will be there to help with funding.

With that in mind, I am very happy to announce today 1.9 million dollars for the Halifax regional municipality for its Youth Advocate Program. The program is designed to reach out to 9 to 14 year-olds in a way that will offer alternatives, show them a better way and a better choice, and keep them from being attracted to a life of crime and a life of unfortunate circumstances and consequences.

We are delighted to be a part of this program.

Thank you so much to each of you for being here today and for being a part of the type of crime reduction programs that provide positive results in this great city and this great province.

Thank you.