Government taking action on gun crime in the Langleys with up to $2.86 million for prevention programs

LANGLEY, BC, Jan. 25, 2023 /CNW/ - People in the City and Township of Langley, and across Canada deserve to feel safe in their communities.

That's why the Government of Canada is taking action with a comprehensive plan that gets guns off our streets and puts more resources into our communities. An important element of this work is stopping violence before it starts, which is why the government launched the $250 million Building Safer Communities Fund (BSCF). First announced in March 2022, the BSCF supports local initiatives that prevent gun and gang violence and help young people make good choices.

Today, John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale–Langley City, on behalf of the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, announced that the City of Langley will receive up to $916,568.04 and the Township of Langley will receive up to $1,949,774.64, totalling up to $2.86 million from the BSCF to prevent gun crime and gang violence in both the City and Township of Langley. This funding will help address the underlying conditions that give rise to crime. It will support community-led projects to prevent violence among young people who are involved in gangs, or at risk of joining them – helping them set themselves up for success in life.

No single program or initiative can tackle the challenge of gun crime on its own. That is why the BSCF is one of many elements in the government's plan to keep Canadians safe.

Our work begins at Canada's borders, where we've added resources to fight smuggling and stop guns from coming into the country. The Government banned assault-style firearms like the AR-15 two years ago and will soon begin a buyback program to get these guns out of our communities. Last October, a national freeze on handguns was implemented through amendments to regulations under the Firearms Act. Finally, we recently introduced Bill C-21 – Canada's most significant action on gun violence in a generation. This landmark legislation proposes significant provisions to combat organized crime and address the alarming role of guns in domestic violence.

"My number one priority as Minister of Public Safety is keeping Canadians safe. Investments in grassroots efforts in the City and Township of Langley  are essential to addressing the social conditions that lead youth and young adults to get involved in a life of crime. Put simply, we must stop gun and gang violence before it starts."

- The Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety

"This funding from the Building Safer Communities Fund will help support at-risk youth to make healthier choices and better set themselves up for success in life. I look forward to seeing the difference it will make for young people across the City of Langley and the Township of Langley."

- John Aldag, Member of Parliament for Cloverdale–Langley City

"The Building Safer Community Fund (BSCF) will support young people in Langley to find belonging and pathways away from gun and gang violence. BSCF enables Langley City to invest in projects to prevent violence through mentoring, counselling, skills development, and recreational programming for young people in our community." 

- Nathan Pachal, Mayor of City of Langley

"Improving public safety requires more than just more police officers. It also involves financial support for needed investments in local initiatives like these aimed at preventing gang violence and improving our youth's well-being. The Township of Langley has been touched by this over the past few years, more than once. We welcome the Government of Canada's contribution under the Building Safer Communities Fund to help."

- Eric Woodward, Mayor of Township of Langley

• Public Safety Canada is finalizing agreements with municipalities and communities that have been identified through evidence-based criteria and meet the program requirements.
• The amount of BSCF support for a community is based on two major elements: crime severity (homicide by firearm, incidents of firearms offences, organized crime/street gang-involved crime) and population density.
• The BSCF builds on the success of the Initiative To Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence. This includes the Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund - a five year $358.8 million investment announced in 2018 - that brings together federal, provincial and territorial supports to tackle the increase in gun-related violence and gang activity in Canada.

• Further strengthening our gun control laws
• Freezing the market on handguns
• Government takes action to prevent gun violence with $250 million Building Safer Communities Fund
• Government of Canada delivers on plan to build safer communities and reduce firearms violence

• A comprehensive strategy to address gun violence and strengthen gun laws in Canada: Bill C-21, An Act to amend certain Acts and to make certain consequential amendments (firearms)
• Gun and Gang Violence
• Firearms
• Homicide in Canada, 2021
• New investments to help end gun and gang violence in Canada
• Youth Gang Prevention Fund

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada