Federal Government Taking Action on Gun Crime in St. John's

Today, Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, on behalf of the Honourable Marco Mendicino, Minister of Public Safety, announced that St. John’s will receive up to $1,828,979.23 from the Building Safer Communities Fund to prevent gun crime and gang violence in the city. 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.

At the announcement at the Rabbittown Community Centre today, Joanne Thompson, Member of Parliament for St. John’s East, said: "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 St. John's.”

 “We are pleased that the Government of Canada is investing in St. John’s through the Building Safer Communities Fund," said Mayor Breen. "Community safety is a top priority for our Council and a key focus area in our Healthy City strategy. This support from the federal government will help us to better understand the root causes of crime in this region and to support strategies that put more positive choices in front of individuals who may feel that crime is their only option.”

A portion of this fund will support the research, data collection and public engagement needed to support community-based initiatives that will have the greatest impacts.