While the number of events related to firearms is sharply increasing in Montreal, the government of Quebec announced Sunday that it will invest $ 52 million to redouble prevention efforts in its fight against this type. crime.
The funds will be distributed over several projects, in particular by allocating $ 11.3 million over five years to the Program for the prevention of delinquency through sport, the arts and culture and $ 20.2 million over 4 years to the funding program of the mission of community street work organizations in crime prevention.
The Quebec government says it hears citizens’ concerns about the situation in recent months.
“They no longer recognize Montreal, they are afraid. I understand them ”, declared the Minister of Public Security, Geneviève Guilbault, in a press release which said that this announcement is in addition to that made previously of the hiring of 107 police officers and experts to fight against violence linked to weapons. fire.
“I am also committed to finding money to prevent the most vulnerable, often our young people, from being seduced by unscrupulous delinquents,” said Ms. Guilbault. To get there, you have to take care of them. You have to be there to help them, listen to them and guide them towards positive life choices. “
The mayoress of Montreal, Valérie Plante, for her part said that she believes that it is necessary to improve the socio-economic conditions and the community infrastructures which have an impact on the path of young people and which can keep them away from crime.
“This united front strengthens the prevention of violence, an essential component of our public safety strategy,” said Ms. Plante.
Among the measures funded, Quebec will pay $ 366,000 to the Service de police de la Ville de Montréal (SPVM) to create an Aboriginal community development advisor position.
A “specialization” in this area of intervention represents a “considerable addition” to the police force, noted Sylvain Caron, director of the SPVM.
The Minister responsible for Native Affairs, himself a former policeman in Montreal, affirmed that having patrolled the streets of the metropolis, he knows “how important it is to establish better mutual understanding and a greater climate of confidence “.
In the past year, four teenagers have been shot dead in Montreal.