Gun and gang violence rates have been climbing across Canada in the past few years and Saskatchewan has been no exception, but the province is hoping to combat those rising numbers with $11.9 million of new federal funding.
Federal Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale said crime in Canada has been trending down for the past two decades, but gun and gang violence has proved an exception.
“About five or six years ago the numbers did a pivot on firearm offences and on gang activity, and this is a statistical trend that you see generally across the country,” he said.
“It’s not even in every place across the country, but we clearly have a rising problem in those two areas and that’s why we’ve focused a lot of attention legislatively and financially to try to get at that problem.”
Goodale announced the funding Monday morning as part of the national Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence. The $11.9 million will be given to Saskatchewan over the next five years, with the province allocating the money to where it is most needed.
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Christine Tell, provincial minister of corrections and policing, said reducing gun and gang violence is a priority. The funding will go toward the province’s existing gun and gang prevention strategy, which includes enforcement, working with community organizations on exit strategies for gang members and on keeping gang members safe in and out of prison, she said.
“We’re going to look at ways in which we can improve our efforts because 30 per cent of our inmates in our correctional facilities have some sort of gang affiliation, so we’re going to try and improve that particular aspect … to ensure that, you know, the people in there are safe, but also that when they get out that they will be safer,” she said.
The Regina Police Service announces the result of their recent provincial gun amnesty in which people could bring in unwanted firearms in an effort to keep them off the street.
Saskatchewan is receiving more funding per capita than the national average, and Goodale said this is because the province’s gun and gang statistics are also above the per capita average.
With gang activity comes increased drug trouble and a rise in other crimes, said Tell.
“We see our particular crime levels increase. We have stolen autos for instance, property crime, it’s all driven usually by the drugs which are associated to gang activity in most cases,” she said.
By fighting gang violence, Tell hopes drug trafficking and these other crimes will also be reduced.
“Ultimately what we want to see is our province be more safe,” she said. “If we can make this, our communities more safe, then we win.”
The Government of Canada is giving a total of $214 million to provinces and territories over the next five years to combat gun and gang violence.