ARCHIVED - Government of Canada announces support for crime prevention project across Canada

Program offers at-risk youth life skills to make smart choices

MONTREAL, February 27, 2011 — Today, the Honourable Jean-Pierre Blackburn, Minister of Veterans Affairs and Minister of State (Agriculture), on behalf of the Honourable Vic Toews, Minister of Public Safety, announced close to $7 million in funding to the YMCA over the next five years in support of a Canada-wide crime prevention project called Alternative Suspension – Développement national that will help at-risk youthavoid criminal activities.

“This Government is working to prevent crime through both tougher laws and targeted programs that help at-risk youth avoid involvement in criminal activities. This announcement clearly demonstrates the government's commitment to preventing crime and making our streets safe,” said Minister Blackburn. “Through programs like the Alternative Suspension – Développement national program, at-risk youth will learn life skills to help them make smart choices.”

Through the National Crime Prevention Strategy's (NCPS) Crime Prevention Action Fund, the Government of Canada is providing $2,065,316 in funding to the YMCA in Montréalto implement the Alternative Suspension – Développement national project.Seven YMCA locations will each receive funding of $691,000 to deliver the project locally. Those locations are Chilliwack, BC; Edmonton, AB; Regina, SK; Winnipeg, MB; Moncton, NB; Halifax-Dartmouth, NS; and St. John's, NL.

This project is intended to successfully re-integrate suspended and/or temporarily expelled students back into the classroom and address other behavioural difficulties, such as drug abuse, having delinquent peers or poor parental supervision, that place these youth at risk of delinquency.

“I am very pleased to be sharing with the federal government the YMCA's vast front-line experience with youth,” said Stéphane Vaillancourt, President and CEO of the YMCAs of Québec. “The success of our younger generation and their positive engagement in society is largely based on their ability to persevere in their education. The expansion of Alternative Suspension to a Canada-wide program highlights the impact of the important service the YMCA is promoting towards the well-being and success of youth."

The Government of Canada has increased investments in crime prevention by 46% from $19.89 million in 2008/09 to $29.1 million in 2009/10, and has already committed almost $40 million in the current fiscal year for approved projects across the country.

The NCPS is administered by the National Crime Prevention Centre within Public Safety Canada. The strategy provides funding support to selected projects that help prevent crime and increase knowledge about effective crime prevention measures.

The NCPS's priorities are:

• addressing early risk factors among vulnerable children, youth, and young adults;
• preventing recidivism among high-risk offenders;
• fostering crime prevention in Aboriginal and Northern communities; and
• preventing youth gang and drug-related crime.

See Also:

• Backgrounder : Government of Canada supports crime prevention efforts across Canada through the YMCA

Information:

Media Relations
Public Safety Canada
613-991-0657

Date modified:

2015-12-02