Government of Canada helps the Jewish Russian Speaking Community of Toronto protect themselves from hate-motivated crimes

TORONTO, July 26, 2019 /CNW/ - Canadians have the right to be free to practise their faith and culture without fear. That's why the Government of Canada helps communities implement measures to protect against hate-motivated crimes through the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP). 

Today, Member of Parliament for York Centre, Michael Levitt, and Member of Parliament for Willowdale Ali Ehsassi, on behalf of the Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, announced up to $31,749 in federal funding to the Jewish Russian Speaking Community of Toronto. 

This funding will support the Jewish Russian Speaking Community of Toronto, a non-profit organization which provides educational, social and cultural community services among the Jews of the former Soviet Union and their families in the Toronto area. Possible security upgrades could include a security camera system, door control and/or alarm system which will help ensure that community members can practise their activities safely and securely.

Since the launch of SIP, the Government of Canada has quadrupled its funding to the program as part of its ongoing commitment to helping religious and cultural organizations better protect themselves against hate-motivated crimes. As committed in Budget 2019, $4 million is available each year, until 2021-22 and $3 million in ongoing funding thereafter.

Quotes

"No Canadian should be afraid to use their community institutions. The Government of Canada is determined to support at-risk communities like the Jewish community in confronting this climate of fear. It is important for those who have been victimized by anti-Semitic and other hate-motivated crimes, or who worry they may be, to feel safe and secure in their community centres, schools, and places of worship. The Security Infrastructure Program is essential to making our communities safer, particularly, the families, children and seniors that use these institutions."

—  Member of Parliament for York Centre, Michael Levitt, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale

"Although we live in a country that is inclusive and diverse, we must not take our safety and security for granted. Protecting our communities, whether it be community centres, educations institutions or places of worship, from hate is the smart thing to do. Through the Security Infrastructure Program, our government is helping to protect all Canadians' right to be free to practise their faith and culture without fear. There is no social license for hate, not in Canada."

—   Member of Parliament for Willowdale, Ali Ehsassi, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, the Honourable Ralph Goodale

"With the issues facing the Jewish community, both locally with an increase of anti-Semitic crimes in the GTA and in North America as a whole, the latest being attack on Chabad of Poway, our community members have been asking for increased security and we are happy to be able to go ahead and make this reality. We thank the federal government for stepping in to make this possible."

—  Rabbi Yoseph Y. Zaltzman, Senior Rabbi and Founder, Jewish Russian Speaking Community of Toronto

Quick Facts:

• In 2017, police reported an increase of 47% in criminal incidents in Canada that were motivated by hate. Incidents targeting the Muslim, Jewish, and Black populations accounted for most of the national increase. Hate crimes targeting religious groups increased by 83%, with incidents committed against the Muslim community increasing the most, by 151%.
• SIP is designed to help communities at risk of hate-motivated crime improve their security infrastructure, which will help make Canada safer for all Canadians.
• Funding is available to not-for-profit organizations linked to a community at risk of being victimized by hate-motivated crime. Approved projects may receive up to 50 per cent of total project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 per project. Eligible organizations that have multiple locations may now apply for projects at each of their sites, rather than being limited to one project per year.
• Interested organizations representing places of worship, provincially and territorially recognized schools, and community centres can apply annually from December 1st to January 31st and from June 1st to July 31st through Public Safety Canada's website.

Associated Links

• Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program
• Budget 2019
• Police-reported hate crime in Canada, 2017

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada

For further information: Scott Bardsley, Manager of Media and Communications, Office of the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, 613-998-5681, [e-mail]; Media Relations, Public Safety Canada, 613-991-0657, [e-mail]

Related Links

https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca