Thunder Bay Police Service Deputy Chief Ryan Hughes on Tuesday had an opportunity to speak with local media regarding the ongoing need for funding for issues of guns, gangs and related law enforcement concerns.
The conversation with local reporters follows Monday’s announcement that the federal government would be giving Ontario $54 million over three years to combat illegal gun and gang activity.
“It is great news that the federal government is giving funding for these issues,” said Deputy Chief Hughes. “We’re waiting to see now if we’re going to get any of that funding.”
A provincial media release issued Monday specified some programs that would likely receive some of that funding. While the examples did not mention Northern Ontario or Thunder Bay Police Service initiatives, the deputy chief remains hopeful some of those federal dollars will be used to assist local guns and gang problems.
“Toronto and Ottawa’s issues are happening here in Thunder Bay,” he said. “We saw that during (Project Disruption) where we seized $1.5 million in drugs and nearly $1 million in cash.”
He added that during the project the joint task force -- which also involved members of the OPP, NAPS and APS -- nearly 100 people were arrested who reside in Southern Ontario and were members of or associated with gangs.
Because of these shared issues, the Thunder Bay Police Service maintains a relationship with police services in Southern and South-Eastern Ontario. Despite the ongoing cooperation, the city’s police service will continue to lobby for funds to help directly deal with the issues of guns and gangs in this community.
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For further context, the provincial government’s media release regarding this funding follows:
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MISSISSAUGA — Ontario's government is standing up for law-abiding citizens by escalating its fight against gun violence and the gangs who prey on young people and communities. By providing new resources and tools to local police, prosecutors and community partners, including initiatives to combat human trafficking and improve intelligence-gathering in jails, Ontario is reinforcing its commitment to taking action where it is needed most.
"For Ontario to grow and prosper, people must feel safe in their homes and their communities," said Attorney General Doug Downey. "Our government is committed to disrupting the drug, gun, and human trafficking that is fuelling gang operations across the province and threatening the safety of families and neighbourhoods."
"Criminals don't respect geographic boundaries," said Solicitor General Sylvia Jones. "That's why our government is committed to fighting illegal guns and gangs province-wide and ensuring dangerous criminals who commit offences end up where they belong - behind bars."
Building on initiatives announced earlier this year and in summer 2018, Ontario is extending government-wide efforts to curb gun crime and reduce gang activity, by investing in new initiatives to:
Combat human trafficking, including enhancements to survivor supports, investments in dedicated prosecution resources, and future enhancements to the Safer and Vital Communities Grant Program.
Create a new Intensive Firearm Bail Team in Peel to support bail hearings and proceedings for gun-related offences in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Establish a GTA/Greater Golden Horseshoe (GGH) Gun and Gang Fund, focused on supporting projects and partnerships in the GTA and GGH, including Toronto, Durham Regional, Halton Regional, Peel Regional, York Regional, Niagara Regional and Hamilton Police Services.
Create a new Eastern Ontario Gun and Gang Team that will work closely with the Ottawa Police Service. The East Region team is staffed with four Assistant Crown Attorneys, who will provide prosecutorial support for complex investigative projects and an intensive firearms and gang-specific bail strategy.
Ontario is also dedicating additional funding to extend initiatives that the government began implementing earlier this year, including the Provincial Gun and Gang Support Unit, the dedicated Gun and Gang Specialized Investigations Fund, the Ottawa Police Service Gun Violence Suppression Strategy and the creation of Justice Centres in four locations across the province.
The federal government is providing Ontario with $65 million over five years to fund initiatives aimed at reducing gun violence and gang activity.
"The Government of Canada is committed to a collaborative approach with all of our partners to better protect Canadians from the threats posed by gun and gang violence," said The Honourable Bill Blair, Federal Minister of Border Security and Organized Crime Reduction.
"By providing the province of Ontario with $65 million, we are ensuring that law enforcement are provided with the necessary resources to better detect and prevent crimes before they happen, while holding offenders accountable for their blatant disregard of the law. Nobody should have to live in fear and we will also continue supporting local community groups to provide at-risk youth with opportunities to live meaningful lives while rejecting a life of crime." See Less