Remarks by
The Honourable Madeleine Meilleur
Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services
upon announcing funding from the Safer & Vital Communities Grant
October 12, 2012
Good morning. Bonjour.
Thank you for the warm welcome and thank you for joining me today.
Before I begin, I must say a special word of thanks to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa for making this venue available to us.
This organization provides essential community services through its programs for the youth of Ottawa.
This is a place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.
Good work is done here, and I am grateful to you for welcoming us here today.
L'annonce d'aujourd'hui porte sur le soutien qu’offre notre gouvernement aux actions communautaires visant à créer des collectivités encore plus sûres dans notre province, où les jeunes peuvent s'épanouir.
The government is committed to ensuring that Ontario’s communities are safe and secure, and that Ontario’s youth get the opportunities they deserve.
Across this province, hundreds of organizations are run by volunteers working to help keep their communities safe.
These people are called to action by their concern for their communities, and by their deep conviction that they can make a difference.
Je crois fermement que les volontaires sont souvent les mieux placés pour comprendre les besoins de leur communauté et pour savoir comment mieux y répondre.
Our government recognizes the commitment you show, and, like your fellow citizens who benefit from your work, we appreciate it.
In 2004, we showed our support by establishing the Safer and Vital Communities Grants.
The grants are available to community-based, not-for-profit organizations and First Nations chiefs and band councils.
The grants provide funding to support community initiatives that target specific risk factors associated with crime and victimization.
We have invested more than $6 million in community crime prevention initiatives through the Safer and Vital Communities Grant. We have supported organizations that fight racism, prevent elder abuse, and raise awareness of internet luring.
This year we invited proposals for projects that align with the pillars and guiding principles outlined in the recently-released publication – Crime Prevention in Ontario: A Framework for Action.
Crime prevention is an important part of the work we do – it is not enough to get tough on crime, we also have to get tough on the root causes of crime.
Nous savons que plus nous travaillons pour assurer la sécurité des Ontariens et Ontariennes, plus nous créerons les conditions nécessaires qui permettront à nos communautés de s’épanouir. C’est pour cela que nous continuons de travailler fort avec nos partenaires.
Ontarians understand that preventing crime is more effective than just focusing on enforcement and punishment. As the old saying goes…“an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
A dollar invested now in crime prevention and early intervention avoids seven dollars spent on incarceration, victim services and other associated costs in the future.
I believe that it is on the ground … at the community level, where we can make the biggest difference.
That’s why, as part of the Youth Action Plan, I visited with youth organizations with my colleague, Minister of Children and Youth Services Eric Hoskins.
We spoke to the people who are most affected by youth crime, and, more importantly, we listened to what they had to say.
Ces subventions pour des collectivités sûres et dynamiques font partie du Plan d'action jeunesse et elles répondent aux besoins de la communauté en aidant ces organisations sur le terrain.
I am pleased to announce today that we are providing $1 million in funding to support 32 community-led crime prevention projects across the province.
These grants will help organizations that prevent child abuse, give youth new opportunities, and prepare teens to make the right decisions.
Here in Ottawa, I am pleased to be joined today by representatives of PACT-Ottawa - Persons Against the Crime of Human Trafficking.
PACT is receiving a grant of over $18,000 to fund a two-part education project that aims to build awareness in young people of the realities of human trafficking so they can protect themselves from this crime.
The project will also teach service providers how to identify victims of human trafficking and give them the tools they need to provide appropriate care and services to trafficked persons.
Sadly, we have recently seen high-profile instances of human trafficking here in Ottawa. The stories were horrific.
Human trafficking is not the kind of crime people think about every day but is one that is of great concern and that has lasting impacts.
Human trafficking has been described as the third largest organized crime activity worldwide, after the trade in drugs and weapons.
Victims suffer physical, sexual and emotional abuse including threats of violence or actual harm.
Human trafficking makes victims of the most vulnerable members of society.
La traite des personnes ne respecte pas les frontières et implique souvent de vastes réseaux de crimes organisés. C’est un problème complexe qui requiert notre attention et auquel nous devons faire face.
Our government is committed to doing everything we can to prevent human trafficking and to protect and support victims of human trafficking.
We are working to ensure that vulnerable individuals in our communities are protected, both in the real world and on-line.
We have worked with municipal police services and the OPP to develop a coordinated approach to prevent and deter human trafficking and child exploitation, and to punish those who take part in these terrible crimes.
So, we welcome the efforts of PACT and their collaborators - the Ottawa Coalition to End Human Trafficking and the Ottawa Police Service.
With this investment from the Safer and Vital Communities Grant, we are affirming our support for this project, which will help victims and prevent people from becoming victims.
I thank you for the great work you do. It’s an important job, and I wish you all every success.
Thank you very much. Merci.
FIN
Thank you for the warm welcome and thank you for joining me today.
Before I begin, I must say a special word of thanks to the Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa for making this venue available to us.
This organization provides essential community services through its programs for the youth of Ottawa.
This is a place where children and youth can experience new opportunities, overcome barriers, build positive relationships and develop confidence and skills for life.
Good work is done here, and I am grateful to you for welcoming us here today.
L'annonce d'aujourd'hui porte sur le soutien qu’offre notre gouvernement aux actions communautaires visant à créer des collectivités encore plus sûres dans notre province, où les jeunes peuvent s'épanouir.
The government is committed to ensuring that Ontario’s communities are safe and secure, and that Ontario’s youth get the opportunities they deserve.
Across this province, hundreds of organizations are run by volunteers working to help keep their communities safe.
These people are called to action by their concern for their communities, and by their deep conviction that they can make a difference.
Je crois fermement que les volontaires sont souvent les mieux placés pour comprendre les besoins de leur communauté et pour savoir comment mieux y répondre.
Our government recognizes the commitment you show, and, like your fellow citizens who benefit from your work, we appreciate it.
In 2004, we showed our support by establishing the Safer and Vital Communities Grants.
The grants are available to community-based, not-for-profit organizations and First Nations chiefs and band councils.
The grants provide funding to support community initiatives that target specific risk factors associated with crime and victimization.
We have invested more than $6 million in community crime prevention initiatives through the Safer and Vital Communities Grant. We have supported organizations that fight racism, prevent elder abuse, and raise awareness of internet luring.
This year we invited proposals for projects that align with the pillars and guiding principles outlined in the recently-released publication – Crime Prevention in Ontario: A Framework for Action.
Crime prevention is an important part of the work we do – it is not enough to get tough on crime, we also have to get tough on the root causes of crime.
Nous savons que plus nous travaillons pour assurer la sécurité des Ontariens et Ontariennes, plus nous créerons les conditions nécessaires qui permettront à nos communautés de s’épanouir. C’est pour cela que nous continuons de travailler fort avec nos partenaires.
Ontarians understand that preventing crime is more effective than just focusing on enforcement and punishment. As the old saying goes…“an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”
A dollar invested now in crime prevention and early intervention avoids seven dollars spent on incarceration, victim services and other associated costs in the future.
I believe that it is on the ground … at the community level, where we can make the biggest difference.
That’s why, as part of the Youth Action Plan, I visited with youth organizations with my colleague, Minister of Children and Youth Services Eric Hoskins.
We spoke to the people who are most affected by youth crime, and, more importantly, we listened to what they had to say.
Ces subventions pour des collectivités sûres et dynamiques font partie du Plan d'action jeunesse et elles répondent aux besoins de la communauté en aidant ces organisations sur le terrain.
I am pleased to announce today that we are providing $1 million in funding to support 32 community-led crime prevention projects across the province.
These grants will help organizations that prevent child abuse, give youth new opportunities, and prepare teens to make the right decisions.
Here in Ottawa, I am pleased to be joined today by representatives of PACT-Ottawa - Persons Against the Crime of Human Trafficking.
PACT is receiving a grant of over $18,000 to fund a two-part education project that aims to build awareness in young people of the realities of human trafficking so they can protect themselves from this crime.
The project will also teach service providers how to identify victims of human trafficking and give them the tools they need to provide appropriate care and services to trafficked persons.
Sadly, we have recently seen high-profile instances of human trafficking here in Ottawa. The stories were horrific.
Human trafficking is not the kind of crime people think about every day but is one that is of great concern and that has lasting impacts.
Human trafficking has been described as the third largest organized crime activity worldwide, after the trade in drugs and weapons.
Victims suffer physical, sexual and emotional abuse including threats of violence or actual harm.
Human trafficking makes victims of the most vulnerable members of society.
La traite des personnes ne respecte pas les frontières et implique souvent de vastes réseaux de crimes organisés. C’est un problème complexe qui requiert notre attention et auquel nous devons faire face.
Our government is committed to doing everything we can to prevent human trafficking and to protect and support victims of human trafficking.
We are working to ensure that vulnerable individuals in our communities are protected, both in the real world and on-line.
We have worked with municipal police services and the OPP to develop a coordinated approach to prevent and deter human trafficking and child exploitation, and to punish those who take part in these terrible crimes.
So, we welcome the efforts of PACT and their collaborators - the Ottawa Coalition to End Human Trafficking and the Ottawa Police Service.
With this investment from the Safer and Vital Communities Grant, we are affirming our support for this project, which will help victims and prevent people from becoming victims.
I thank you for the great work you do. It’s an important job, and I wish you all every success.
Thank you very much. Merci.
FIN