MIL OSI Translation. Canadian French to English –
Source: Government of Canada – in French 1
Press release
September 24, 2024
Ottawa, Ontario
Everyone living in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their community. In recent years, we have seen an unacceptable increase in hate incidents targeting many communities, particularly those that are more vulnerable. In response, the federal government is developing safety programs tailored to their needs to ensure their safety.
Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, launched the new Canada Community Safety Program (CCSP), and announced that the program will be ready to accept funding applications from eligible organizations starting October 1, 2024.
The CCSP replaces and enhances the Security Infrastructure Funding Program (SIFP), which aims to support communities by investing in security measures that will help keep them safe. Eligible measures include security equipment and materials, minor renovations to enhance security, security and emergency plans and assessments, hate-motivated incident response training, and time-limited security personnel.
The federal government listened to concerned organizations and partners and designed the CCSP to better meet the needs of communities and provide greater flexibility for organizations applying for financial support. Under the CCSP:
Funding eligibility criteria have been expanded to include office and administrative spaces, cemeteries and early childhood centres; up to 70% of eligible project costs can be covered, compared to 50% of costs under the SIPP; funding for authorized, time-limited third-party security personnel is now a permanent feature of the Program; the maximum amount (or stacking limit) of total government assistance (federal, provincial, territorial and municipal) has been eliminated, providing organizations with more opportunities to apply for other sources of funding; application requirements have been modified to reduce administrative barriers; organizations can apply for funding at any time of the year through an ongoing call for applications process; and organizations can apply for funding and deliver projects on behalf of eligible associated recipients.
Together, these measures will make it easier for organizations to fund their projects and protect their community gathering places.
Quotes
“Every person living in Canada deserves to feel safe in their community. The changes we are making through the new Canada Community Safety Program are informed by what we heard from organizations that interacted with its predecessor, the Security Infrastructure Program. It is now a more flexible, more generous and simpler program that will make it easier for vulnerable communities to protect themselves from hate-motivated crimes.”
– The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
Quick Facts
Hate crimes are considered one of the most underreported offences. Research shows that only one-third of hate crime victims in Canada report a crime to police.
Additional funding for the PSCC was announced in Budget 2023 and Budget 2024 as follows:
16 million in 2024-2025; 16 million in 2025-2026; 11 million in 2026-2027; 11 million in 2027-2028; 11 million in 2028-2029 and thereafter.
The CCSP is one of four programs under the National Crime Prevention Strategy, which supports targeted, local crime prevention initiatives and knowledge development and sharing to prevent and reduce crime among at-risk populations and vulnerable communities. The other programs are: the Crime Prevention Action Fund, the Youth Gang Prevention Fund and the Aboriginal and Northern Crime Prevention Fund.
The PFPIS was originally created in 2007 to support communities at risk of hate crimes by improving their safety infrastructure. This important work will now continue under the PSCC.
In total, through the SIP and the expanded Security Infrastructure Program (SIIP), the Government of Canada has invested more than $30 million in funding for over 770 projects to help Canadian communities at risk of hate-motivated crime protect their communities and strengthen the security of their community centres, places of worship and other facilities.
To better support communities in need, costs related to security personnel hired for a fixed period are eligible for reimbursement starting September 24, 2024 and following project approval.
Public Safety will contact organizations that have submitted an application under the PFPIS to discuss the status of their application and their participation under the PSCC.
Organizations wishing to be kept informed of the launch of the next PSCC call for applications are invited to register at distribution list from the National Crime Prevention Center.
Following the National Summit on Antisemitism and the National Summit on Islamophobia, the Government of Canada committed to considering adjustments to the SIP. The SIP will enable the Government of Canada to be more effective and more responsive to the safety and security needs of communities.
Budget 2024 provides an investment of $273.6 million over six years, starting in 2024–25, and $29.3 million ongoing, for Canada’s Action Plan to Combat Hate. The upcoming Action Plan will support expanded community services and law enforcement reform, address the rise in hate crimes and incidents, strengthen community safety, combat radicalization, and increase support for victims. The additional funding provided to the CCSP in Budget 2024 is part of an investment in this first-ever whole-of-government action plan to prevent and combat hate.
Related links
Contact persons
Gabriel BrunetPress SecretaryOffice of the Honourable Dominic LeBlancMinister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs819-665-6527gabriel.brunet@iga-aig.gc.ca
Media RelationsPublic Safety Canada613-991-0657media@ps-sp.gc.ca
EDITOR’S NOTE: This article is a translation. Apologies should the grammar and/or sentence structure not be perfect.