Solicitor General Michael Kerzner - Screen Capture via CPAC

The Ontario government is fighting back against crime by investing more than $6 million in crime prevention initiatives.

The money is coming through forfeited assets following criminal prosecutions and will be used to support 23 projects by law enforcement agencies and community partners.

“We’re using every tool including cash and proceeds seized from criminals to prevent crime and protect our communities,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Thanks to the hard work of our men and women in uniform, these funds are being reinvested back into our communities to help support victims, educate youth and increase awareness about crimes such as gang violence and hate.”

Two Northwestern Ontario police services are receiving funding:

Thunder Bay Police Service, Project House Cleaning – $270,000 – Project House Cleaning aims to stop gang recruitment efforts and disrupt the violence and sale of illegal drugs by organized crime groups in the City of Thunder Bay. Thunder Bay Police Service will expand its partnership with the District of Thunder Bay Social Services Administration Board to increase anti-gang outreach efforts and focus on enforcement, victim support and youth engagement/education.

Treaty Three Police Service, Maandoonan Ozhibii’igan (Gathering Information) – $300,000 – Maandoonan Ozhibii’igan is a dedicated three-year project focused on enforcement and intelligence gathering related to organized crime in high-risk communities within the Treaty Three Nation. The project includes specialized training for frontline officers on organized crime, community education and engagement. It will also seek to strengthen collaborations between police and non-police partners to create awareness and empower community members to assist in keeping their community safe.

Since 2018, the Ford government has invested more than $16 million in crime prevention initiatives through the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing Grant.

This year’s grant funding will support a wide range of community safety projects including:

• Collaboration between police services and community service providers to increase awareness about hate crime
• Providing enhanced resources to help stop gang recruitment efforts, disrupt the sale of illegal drugs by organized crime groups and provide support to victims and others affected by crime
• Building positive relationships between law enforcement and schools, developing and implementing learning opportunities for youth, reducing and preventing gang involvement and street violence and educating youth about internet safety.

To date, the POC-FLP Grant program has funded 281 community safety projects across the province.