Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound MPP Bill Walker has announced that the Ontario government is investing $2,234,351.54 over three years to provide local police services with significant new resources to safeguard their communities.
This funding is part of Ontario’s $267 million investment in the Community Safety and Policing (CSP) Grant Program for initiatives that help combat crime locally.
“This funding is a terrific boost four our local police services in Bruce-Grey-Owen Sound. Our government is providing significant resources to our local law enforcement agencies to ensure they have the support they need to continue protecting our communities,” said Walker.
Owen Sound Police Services Board, Hanover Police Services Board, Grey Highlands Police Services Board and West Grey Police Services Board are four of 90 boards receiving funding through the CSP Grant Program for 147 public safety initiatives focusing on local and provincial priorities such as gun and gang violence, sexual violence and harassment, human trafficking, mental health and addictions and hate-motivated crime. Many projects will be undertaken in collaboration with community partners.
Receiving funding are:
- Owen Sound Police Services Board: $1,194,799.52 for “Community Oriented Response and Enforcement Unit Enhancement (CORE).”
- Owen Sound Police Services Board: $538,559.55 for “Part Time Officer Program- Enforcement and support for full time officers during peak call periods.”
- Owen Sound Police Services Board: $150,000.00 for “Mental Health Crisis Response Team – (Known locally as the Mobile Mental Health and Addictions Response Team MMHART).”
- Hanover Police Services Board: $84,000.00 for “Community Trails and Downtown Safety – Increasing Police Presence.”
- Grey Highlands Police Services Board: $98,365.65 for “Grey Highlands School & Community Engagement & Safety Officer (SCE&SO).”
- West Grey Police Services Board: $168,626.82 for “Enhancing police response to victims of violent crime.”
“Community safety is a top priority, and our government has been strengthening our justice system to protect communities and hold offenders accountable,” said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. “This investment is another way we are helping police services address local challenges and improve the well-being of the people they serve. Whether to combat the opioid crisis, share intelligence, or prevent violent crime, this funding will make a difference in all corners of Ontario.”
The CSP Grant Program helps police services address priority issues identified in their communities such as expanding mental health supports, preventing crime in schools and combatting cyber-crime. It also addresses province-wide priorities such as:
Gun and gang violence
Sexual violence and harassment
Human trafficking
Mental health and addictions
Hate-motivated crime
This investment will be allocated over a three-year period: 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024. The maximum funding for any one initiative under the Provincial Priorities Funding Stream is $1.5 million over three years. Under the Local Priorities Funding Stream, each eligible police services board had a pre-determined allocation that they could apply for.
Police services will be required to report twice a year on the financial activities and outcomes of their initiatives.
