Government of Canada helps Egale Canada Human Rights Trust protect themselves from hate-motivated crimes

TORONTO, Dec. 1, 2017 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, announced more than $47,000 in federal funding to the Egale Canada Human Rights Trust under the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).   

This funding will support the installation of security cameras and an access control system to ensure that community members can practice their activities peacefully.

Budget 2017 committed additional funding of $5 million over five years in support of SIP. The program helps communities enhance security infrastructure against hate-motivated crimes.  As part of this commitment, today we are also launching the first 2018-19 call for proposals.

When combined with existing funding, SIP will invest up to $10 million over the next five years. Each year, $2 million will be available to help support not-for-profit organizations make needed security improvements.

Quotes
"All people, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, have the right to feel safe and to live their lives free from stigma, violence, discrimination and prejudice. We are working hard to build and preserve the Canada that we aspire to be: compassionate, open-minded, respectful, inclusive and proud of the vast diversity that makes our country strong. The Security Infrastructure Program is an important initiative to help protect all Canadians' right to be free to be who they are and love who they love without fear. There is no social license for hate, not in Canada."
—    The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness

"As Canada's first and only LGBTQI2S youth specific transitional housing, I can't express how great the need is for a hub like the Egale Centre – one in four Canadian youth suffering from homelessness identifies as a sexual minority.  Thanks to the support of our sponsors and community partners, the Egale Centre is set to open as soon as of January 2019."
—    Helen Kennedy, Executive Director, Egale Canada Human Rights Trust

Quick Facts

• The Security Infrastructure Program 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% of total project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 per project.
  
  
• In December 2016, important improvements were made to make the program more responsive to the needs of communities. This includes considering a wider range of security measures as eligible for funding (for example, improvements both inside and outside facilities) and reaching out to ensure diverse community organizations are aware of the available funding. Additionally, changes to the application process ensure that funding decisions are provided to applicants within four months of the close of each call for proposal.
  
  
• Interested organizations representing places of worship, provincially and territorially recognized schools, and community centers can apply annually from December 1st to January 31st and from June 1st to July 31st through Public Safety Canada's website, to obtain the application kit and related information.

Associated Links

• Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program

SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada