Minister Bill Blair announces $11 million to support Ontario’s guns-and-gang reduction strategy

Ontario will be getting an $11-million dollar boost from the federal government over two years to help fight guns-and-gang violence in the province.

The Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction Bill Blair made the funding announcement on Tuesday.

“Right across the country, we have begun to see a very significant increase in violent crime and gang activity,” said Blair.

“This significant new funding will focus on prevention, intervention, enforcement, justice and rehabilitation measures in relation to guns-and-gang violence that are taking place in our communities.”

Blair said that all three levels of government will work collaboratively to keep communities safe and tackle guns-and-gang crime together.

Included in their plan to combat guns-and-gang violence, Ontario Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said the ministry has established a firearm bail support team. The team, made up of crown attorneys and case management coordinators will take on “the primary responsibility to work on firearm bail hearings in Toronto courthouses,” Mulroney said.

“Since the team was created, it has been involved in 150 bail hearings in order to make the strongest possible case for detention when circumstances allow,” said Mulroney.

The overall funding is part of the federal government’s $327.6-million investment over five years to help reduce gun crime and criminal gang activities across the country.

More than $54 million will be made out to the province over the next five years.