Quebec introduces $52 million in new funding to tackle gun violence and crime
CBC
Quebec says it plans to invest $52 million to help community groups that work with young people in a bid to prevent gun violence and crime.
The funding will be spread out over the next few years to support six different initiatives and programs.
Public Security Minister Geneviève Guilbault announced the funding today at a morning press conference, saying the money is necessary to lead youth toward positive alternatives to violent crime.
"We see on social media things that are astonishing, young people with guns that are proud of them, that use them online live," Guilbault said. "We cannot do anything miraculous today, but we have to act, and that's when prevention comes up."
The news follows recent announcements from the provincial government meant to combat gun violence, especially in Montreal.
The city has seen a spate of shootings in recent months, and the killings of four teenagers this year have prompted calls for more to be done to end the violence.
Montreal Mayor Valérie Plante says authorities must act to improve socio-economic conditions and community infrastructures that affect young people in order to keep them away from crime. "The message we have today is maybe criminalized groups are changing but we are changing too," Plante said.
"We are adjusting so we can fight efficiently the changes of the criminal scenes."
Provincial Indigenous Affairs Minister Ian Lafrenière says $366,000 of the new funding will go toward hiring an Indigenous community development adviser to work with Montreal police to help better address the needs of people in vulnerable situations.