Government of Canada Takes Action to Prevent Crime in Nunavut

Market Wire, August, 2008

The Honourable Rob Nicholson, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, on behalf of the Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today announced close to $570,000 in funding to support four crime prevention projects that focus on helping at-risk Aboriginal youth in Nunavut.

"The Government of Canada is serious about improving the lives of Aboriginal youth," said Minister Nicholson. "We are pleased to support these local crime prevention projects in Nunavut that provide at-risk youth with the necessary skills to live healthier lives, make better choices and envision a brighter future."

"This is good news for Nunavut. By working together with the federal government, this type of investment will help give Nunavummiut and communities the tools at critical stages to make good choices and develop effective crime prevention strategies," said Paul Okalik, Premier of Nunavut and territorial Minister of Justice.

The funding comes from the Government of Canada's National Crime Prevention Strategy (NCPS), which provides funding support to strategically selected projects that contribute to preventing and reducing crime as well as increasing knowledge about what works in crime prevention. Priorities for funding include:

- addressing early risk factors among vulnerable children and youth;

- preventing youth gang and drug-related crime;

- preventing recidivism among high-risk groups; and

- fostering crime prevention in Aboriginal communities.

Budget 2008 provides $30 million per year in additional, ongoing funds to the National Crime Prevention Strategy. These funds are in addition to the Strategy's permanent annual funding base of $33 million. The NCPS is administered by Public Safety Canada's National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) and is managed in collaboration with the provinces and territories.

Contacts: Office of the Honourable Stockwell Day Minister of Public Safety Melisa Leclerc Director of Communications 613-991-2863 Public Safety Canada Media Relations 613-991-0657 www.publicsafety.gc.ca .