Ottawa Announces $390M in Funding for Anti-Gang, Gun Violence Program

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino speaks about the government's firearms buyback program in the Foyer of the House of Commons, in Ottawa, April 26, 2023. The Canadian Press/Adrian Wyld

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino has announced $390 million in funding over the next five years aimed at preventing gun and gang violence, a near doubling of the money given to provinces through the Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence initiative in 2017.

“These federal funds will be distributed to the provinces and territories for the purpose of giving law enforcement the additional people, resources, and supports that they need to get the job done and to get the job done safely,” Mendicino said during a press conference on May 8 in Mississauga, Ont.

Back in November 2017, the federal government announced it would spend $327.6 million in funding over five years in an attempt to tackle an increase in gun violence and gang activity in Canada.

The majority of the funding—approximately $214 million over five years—was given to provinces and territories to combat gun and gang violence in communities by working with partners within their jurisdiction that could help prevent crime.

According to Public Safety Canada, firearm-related homicides and gang-related homicides have been steadily increasing in recent years. Gun-related homicides reached a total of 277 in 2020—16 more than the previous year—while gang-related homicides in Canada’s largest cities have almost doubled since 2013.

Mendicino highlighted how Quebec has previously used the funding for Operation Centaur, a province-wide initiative that helps staff specialized police units and experts to investigate and disrupt gun-trafficking networks, while British Columbia used the funding to support the Organized Crime Agency of British Columbia, a police agency that fights gun smuggling and drug trafficking.

Mendicino said he believes gun violence and crime in Canada could only be stopped by focusing on the “three pillars” of strong borders, strong laws and enforcement, and strong prevention.

A major part of the Liberals’ policies to combat gun violence has been legislation aimed at restricting firearm ownership. The Liberals have introduced Bill C-21, which would ban “assault-style” firearms and remove an individual’s possession and acquisition licence if they engage in domestic violence.

Opposition Tories have criticized the bill, saying it will target law-abiding gun owners instead of criminals.

Bail Reform Legislation Coming

During the press conference, Mendicino said he and Attorney General David Lametti will “in the very near future” introduce new legislation to make changes to Canada’s bail system, citing a “need to address repeat violent offenders especially those who use guns and weapons.”

In recent months, the Conservatives have criticized the country’s bail system for being “broken,” by allowing more Canadians to receive bail and repeat offenders to remain out of jail.

Bill C-75—which became law in June 2019—directed police and judges to follow a “principle of restraint” when it comes to imposing bail conditions on offenders, even in cases where they had repeatedly committed crimes.

Following the December 2022 killing of Ontario Provincial Police Commissioner Thomas Carrique by a repeat offender who was out on bail, Canada’s 13 premiers and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police put out a joint call for bail reform. During a press conference the same month, Conservative Party leader Pierre Poilievre said that he believed bail reform should be strengthened so that chronic re-offenders “stay behind bars.”

Mendicino said the federal government needs to make sure it “gets those laws right,” and said it will bring forward legislation that “will be responsive to the requests of our provincial and territorial counterparts.”