Transition Binder: Crime Prevention Branch Overview

Branch Overview

The Crime Prevention Branch (CPB) supports the Minister of Public Safety in order to provide national leadership on policy issues related to policing and firearms, corrections and criminal justice, serious and organized crime, and drugs. CPB works closely with Portfolio departments/agencies, federal-provincial-territorial (FPT) partners and other stakeholders to provide strategic advice and support evidence-based policy development in these areas. The Branch also develops and administers various programs that support specific objectives through grants and contributions, targeted partnerships, and collaboration with provincial, territorial, and municipal stakeholders.

CPB is comprised of five Directorates: Policing Policy; Law Enforcement Policy; Community Safety, Corrections and Criminal Justice Policy; Firearms Policy; and Program Development & Intergovernmental Affairs. Currently, the Branch employs 209 full-time employees with an operating budget of approximately $28.7 million and a Grants and Contributions budget of approximately $53.9 million.

Key Files and Responsibilities

Policing Policy Directorate (PPD)

RCMP Governance and Modernization

Provides support to the overall implementation of the RCMP transformation and oversight agenda, including appointment processes (e.g., ongoing harassment resolution process, support to the Management Advisory Board and Civilian Review and Complaints Commission).

Emergencies Act

Following the invocation of the Emergencies Act to respond to protests in Ottawa and across the country in February 2022, both a Parliamentary Review Committee (the Special Joint Committee on the Declaration of Emergency (DEDC)), and an independent public inquiry were established under the Public Order Emergency Commission (POEC). For the independent inquiry, Commissioner Rouleau delivered the final report and recommendations on February 17, 2023. Led by the Minister of Public Safety, the Government made public the Government of Canada Response to the Public Order Emergency Commission Recommendations on March 6, 2024.

Contract Policing Program/Police Services Agreements

Provides leadership in managing the Contract Policing program; negotiations, interpretation and day-to-day administration of the 2012 Police Service Agreements (PSA) that underpin the program and enable the RCMP to deliver front-line policing services to all provinces and territories except Ontario and Quebec, as well as over 150 municipalities; providing policy analysis on program sustainability, policing transitions and assessments; and developing strategies to resolve ongoing disputes with certain jurisdictions. PS regularly engages with contract partners to address policing and contract-related concerns, to ensure contract compliance and accountability, and to enter into or terminate PSAs. Work has begun on the renegotiation of the PSA, which is set to expire in 2032. Currently, work is underway with two jurisdictions, the City of Surrey, B.C., and Grand Prairie, AB, to facilitate police transitions to independent, stand-alone municipal police service.

Police of jurisdiction (POJ) handover to Surrey Police Service (SPS) is scheduled to occur on November 29, 2024, and Grande Prairie is in early stages of transition with POJ handover not expected to occur before March 31, 2026. In Surrey, the current focus is on partner development and agreement on an operational plan that provides temporary RCMP assistance and gradual demobilization until SPS assumes full command for municipal police services. PS is actively engaged in both processes to provide guidance and overall structure to the transition process. [REDACTED]

FPT Contract Management Committee (CMC)

The CMC manages an FPT ADM-level committee tasked with monitoring progress and providing strategic advice on matters of interest and on the resolution of issues related to the PSAs and contract policing. CMC is comprised of representatives of provincial, territorial, and municipal contract partners. PS manages this ADM-level committee, along with a subordinate FPT governance structure, to provide policy analysis and strategic advice and to ensure the program is responsive to partner needs and concerns.

Parliamentarian Security (PARLSEC)

Due to the evolving and complex threat landscapes, both in Canada and abroad, CPB, in collaboration with the RCMP, the Integrated Threat Assessment Centre, and PCO, are working on various measures that will seek to provide security and protection to individuals, including Ministers, Members of Parliament, and public officials, including during the upcoming election. Work is currently underway to pave a path forward, with a view to enhance the protection of Canada's democracy.

Law Enforcement Policy Directorate (LED)

Drug Policy

Provides national leadership, in cooperation with provinces, territories, and law enforcement agencies, to develop and advance measures to disrupt illegal drug markets and help protect Canadians from the harms associated with illegal substances. This includes developing measures to support law enforcement readiness and capacity to address the increasingly toxic supply of illegal substances, reduce organized crime involvement in the illegal drug trade, and help divert people who use drugs to health and social supports. It also includes collaborating with international partners, particularly the U.S. and Mexico, on actions to address the smuggling of synthetic opioids and precursor chemicals coming into North America; developing and implementing strategies to disrupt illegal cannabis markets; supporting policy development, research and public awareness of the dangers of drug-impaired driving and coordinating national drug-impaired data collection and reporting.

Serious and Organized Crime

Leads initiatives and policy work focused on countering serious and organized crime, including the implementation of Canada's 2019 National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking (), the National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the Internet (2004), and coordinating Canada's response to the G7 Action Plan to Prevent and Counter the Smuggling of Migrants (2024). The Division also provides policy direction on combatting organized crime and leads negotiations under the Witness Protection Program Act.

The Division develops and maintains partnerships such as with law enforcement, provinces and territories and the digital industry, supports awareness raising and research into serious and organized crime trends, and designs policy to support victims and survivors of human trafficking and child sexual exploitation. This work is advanced through FPT forums like the National Coordinating Committee on Organized Crime and internationally through bilateral relationships and multilateral forums such as the UN, G7 and Five Country Ministerial.

The division also provides federal leadership in response to the final report of the Mass Casualty Commission (MCC). This work includes coordinating federal efforts, sustaining bilateral collaboration with Nova Scotia, and engaging with provincial and territorial partners, and other stakeholders. The division also houses the Joint Canada-Nova Scotia Progress Monitoring Committee (PMC) Secretariat, which provides coordination and administrative support to the PMC. The PMC was established by the Governments of Canada and Nova Scotia in the fall of 2023 to be the primary vehicle to monitor and publicly report on the work that the governments are undertaking in response to the MCC final report.

Financial Crime Coordination Centre (FC3)

FC3 advances the Minister's and Department's priorities for countering financial crime and supports broader federal efforts to address financial crime through its strategic policy and knowledge transfer functions. FC3 focuses on advancing policy solutions, supporting coordination within Canada's Anti-Money Laundering/Anti-Terrorist Financing (AML/ATF) Regime and with provincial and territorial partners and other stakeholders, and fostering a strong community of practice, in the highest impact financial crime areas. FC3 hosts an online access-restricted portal that connects public sector professionals with educational resources and subject matter expertise. FC3 also organizes an annual AML conference which represents Canada's largest gathering of public sector professionals to discuss enforcement efforts and share best practices.

Community Safety, Corrections and Criminal Justice Directorate (CSCCJD)

Community Safety Policy

Provides policy direction under the Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism; Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate; and leads sector efforts relating to Canada's Black Justice Strategy and the Indigenous Justice Strategy. Supports items related to restorative justice; collaborates with other lead federal departments on the development and implementation of federal initiatives; and engages with criminal justice stakeholders to advance common priorities.

The National Office for Victims (NOV)

A central resource working to improve victims of crime's experience with the federal corrections and conditional release system (i.e. where the offender that harmed them was convicted and received a federal sentence of two years or more). NOV supports correctional policy development to ensure victims' rights under the Canadian Victims' Bill of Rights are upheld; develops information products for dissemination to victims and the general public; and provides a coordination role to Public Safety Victim Portfolio Partners.

Corrections and Criminal Justice

Provides policy advice and support on corrections and criminal justice policy issues (including pardons) related to key legislation (i.e., Corrections and Conditional Release Act, Criminal Records Act, Expungement of Historically Unjust Convictions Act, International Transfer of Offenders Act, Sex Offender Information Registration Act and the Victims Bill of Rights Act); and supports the external oversight of Structured Intervention Units.

Crime Prevention Policy

Provides policy direction under the National Crime Prevention Strategy and its four funding programs. These programs implement an evidence-based crime prevention approach, increase knowledge about what works in crime prevention, work with at-risk youth, and improve security for communities at risk of hate-motivated crime. The team also works to advance Community Safety and Well-Being approaches, including through the Federal/Provincial/Territorial working group on Crime Prevention; and supports international policy engagement on crime prevention.

Research

Provides evidence-based research, at the request of policy areas, to support policy development in the priority areas of crime prevention, corrections, criminal justice and law enforcement, including on issues related to cyberbullying, human trafficking, firearms and gangs. In addition, it represents PS and its portfolio at Statistics Canada's (StatsCan) Liaison Officer Committee (LOC), for which it coordinates inputs for jurisdictional scans and on select Works-in-Progress for upcoming StatsCan releases, and supports the Minister/senior management regarding selected StatsCan releases.

Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains

CSCCJD is responsible for implementing An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (the Supply Chains Act) which came into force on January 1, 2024. The Supply Chains Act requires certain entities and government institutions to submit an annual report to the Minister of Public Safety on the steps taken to prevent forced or child labour in their supply chains. Reports received must be posted on the Public Safety website; a summary of the reports must be tabled in an annual report to Parliament by the Minister of Public Safety.

Firearms Policy Directorate (FPD)

Firearms Policy

Provides policy direction and coordination with portfolio partners on firearms-related issues; develops legislative and regulatory changes to ensure the safe and legal use of firearms, prevent illegal and prohibited activities, as well as promote harm reduction and awareness of firearms-related issues; and is the policy lead for the Firearms Act. The team developed and is supporting implementation of Former Bill C-21, with most measures now in force, including the national handgun freeze, red flag laws, increased maximum penalties for weapons smuggling/trafficking and new license requirements, and others. Work continues to implement the yellow flag laws and enhanced license revocation and ineligibility provisions, and to support implementation of the sport shooting exemption and the Red Flag Awareness Initiative. There are also many regulatory initiatives underway related to large capacity magazines, gap list Firearms Reference Table (FRT), markings and firearms records (classification). FPD is also working to establish the Canadian Firearms Advisory Committee. FPD also provides oversight to the Horizontal Initiative "Enhancing Canada's Firearms Control Framework" funding of $208M over five years starting in 2021-22 and $28.8M ongoing with the RCMP and CBSA, and recently accessed the balance of funding necessary to implement Bill C-21 and to enhance FPD's policy capacity.

The firearms compensation program is led by the Firearms Program Branch (FPB), with FPD providing policy support for any regulatory requirements. FPD maintains the policy function for firearms, including any decisions on what is prohibited, while FPB leads program design and development and policy function for the program itself.

Program Development & Intergovernmental Affairs (PDIAD)

Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

Established in 2018 and renewed for five-years (2023-2028), the Government has invested over $840M since the initiative's inception. Led by PS, in collaboration with CBSA and RCMP, the ITTAAGV invests in communities, and enhances law enforcement capacity and federal leadership. Funds are allocated to PTs through the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) and support gun and gang violence enforcement and prevention-related projects identified by the PTs. The 2023 renewal included $390M to PTs through the GGVAF.

The Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF)

Launched in March 2022, this $250M initiative seeks to counter social conditions that may lead to criminality by bolstering gang prevention programming through direct funding to municipalities and Indigenous communities. EMPB is leading program delivery. This initiative is sunsetting in 2026.

Parliamentary District Policing Program (PDPP)

[REDACTED] The PDPP will enable the Ottawa Police Service to strengthen its footprint around the Parliamentary campus, and thus contribute to addressing security gaps identified in the Report of the Public Inquiry into the 2022 Public Order Emergency.

Auto Theft

Further to establishing contribution agreements to flow $12.6M over three years to Ontario Provincial Police, Sûreté du Québec, and INTERPOL to assist national efforts to curb auto theft issues, the Department is responsible for the overall coordination of this file, including managing the interdepartmental and FPT governance, as well as quarterly updates to the National Action Plan.

Nation's Capital Extraordinary Policing Costs Program (NCEPCP)

Established in 2015, and expanded in 2020 for a five-year term, the NCEPC provides a contribution of up to $3M annually to reimburse the City of Ottawa for certain costs in recognition of the unique policing environment created by the presence of federal landmarks, institutions and events of national significance in Ottawa. The NCEPCP sunsets at the end of FY2024/25. [REDACTED]

Aboriginal Community Safety Planning Initiative (ACSPI)

Established in 2010 as a component of the Government of Canada's response to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls (MMIWG), ACSPI supports Indigenous communities to develop Community Safety Plans (CSPs) that are specific to their unique circumstances. Through a facilitated, community-driven process, these plans define safety concerns and identify solutions to advance Indigenous community safety. In addition, ACSPI coordinates within the federal apparatus, as well as with external stakeholders, to address issues raised in the CSPs.

Indigenous Community Corrections Initiative (ICCI)

The ICCI ($12.5M in ongoing contribution funding) takes a holistic and healing approach to community wellness by providing contribution funding to support community-based alternatives to incarceration and efforts to reintegrate Indigenous offenders into communities. ICCI seeks to reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous offenders in the Canadian Criminal Justice System and is embedded in the Federal Framework to Reduce Recidivism. Project development efforts with 27 potential recipients began in late October 2024.

The Contribution Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime (CPCSOC)

This program supports initiatives, research, partnership building, specialized police services, projects, and programs to increase knowledge, raise awareness, and/or help advance efforts to combat serious and organized crime through funding allocations to eligible recipients including Indigenous communities, specifically related to projects to address human trafficking, child sexual exploitation, auto theft, drug impaired driving, contraband, and gender-based violence.

Major International Event Security Cost Framework (MIESCF)

MIESCF facilitates cooperation with partner jurisdictions by reimbursing, through contribution agreements, the incremental, extraordinary, justifiable, and reasonable policing- and security-related costs incurred in support of RCMP-led security operations for Prime Minister-led events (e.g., COP 15, Papal Visit, G7/G20 and other leaders' summits, Royal visits).

Intergovernmental Affairs (IGA)

Leads the planning, coordination, and logistics of intergovernmental meetings, such as the FPT Ministers and DMs Responsible for Justice and Public Safety, as well as the FPT ADM-level Crime Prevention and Policing Committee (CPPC). IGA also provides strategic support on other ad hoc FPT activities, as needed.

Rural Crime

Supports the Deputy Minister as co-chair of the FPT DM Rural Crime Committee, which is responsible for implementing the Pan-Canadian Strategic Framework on Rural Crime. PS is responsible for engaging, tracking, and communicating the progress for the initiatives taking place across Canada.

Key Partners

CPB works with a variety of partners, including Portfolio organizations and other federal government departments and agencies with community safety, corrections and security-related responsibilities. The Branch also works with non-governmental organizations, provinces and territories, policing and first responder organizations, the Five Eyes (Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom and United States), and other international partners and Indigenous organizations and communities.

Date modified:

2025-04-22