The federal government is giving Halton region nearly $4M to help prevent crime. The money will go to community organizations that work with at-risk youth.

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The investment is aimed at preventing gun crime in Halton, amid rising concern in the community about an increase in gun violence in the region.

Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino was in Oakville to announce nearly $4M for Halton from the federal government’s building safer communities fund.

Local organizations working with at-risk youth can apply to Halton region, which will be distributing the money.

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Milton MP Adam Van Koeverden says kids need mentorship, support, and activities to keep them on the straight-and-narrow, offering himself as an example.

“You could probably find some of my teachers that would tell you that I was a handful and I had lots of behavioural challenges in elementary school, but in grade 8 I found the canoe club, and I met all these awesome people down there, and it changed my life,” Van Koeverden said.

Mendicino says stopping young people from entering a life of crime is one part of his government’s multi-faceted approach to gun crime. He says this begins with stopping illegal guns from being smuggled across the border highlighting $450M in funding for border services over the last two years.

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Mendicino says,  “I would say to you that we have made progress, that in the last two years alone that we have seized a record number of illegal guns at the border and that is good, but I also think you’re right to highlight that it is the tip of the iceberg.”

In Halton, police say the vast majority of recovered guns used in crimes are illegal weapons traced back to the U.S. Halton police say 85 to 90 per cent of those weapons are sourced back to the U.S.

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Halton police chief Stephen Tanner says crime is on the rise, after a decline during the pandemic, “we’re also seeing more shootings.” He thinks border services need even more support.

“I really strongly believe that the RCMP as our national police service has a role to play at the border,” Tanner said.

Mendicino says federal money has allowed border services to add new technology that makes detecting illegal guns easier and quicker.