Ontario Cracking Down on Crime in Etobicoke-Lakeshore

Proceeds seized from criminals to help Toronto Police Service combat crime

News: January 19, 2024

ETOBICOKE — The Ontario government is fighting back against crime in Etobicoke-Lakeshore by investing $3,00,000 in crime prevention initiatives. The funds, forfeited to the province as proceeds of crime following criminal prosecutions, will be used to support community safety projects by the Toronto Police Service.

“Our government is committed to its priority of keeping communities safe. This funding will help Toronto Police Service work with local partners to combat street violence and crimes affecting youth. Redirecting proceeds from crime to fund meaningful initiatives is the right way forward to build safer neighbourhoods,” said Christine Hogarth, the MPP for Etobicoke-Lakeshore. 

Since 2018, Ontario has invested more than $16 million in crime prevention initiatives across the province through the Proceeds of Crime Front-Line Policing (POC-FLP) Grant program.

“Safety is so important to our community. I am delighted that our government is investing proceeds of crime to bolster anti-hate crime initiatives, increase school safety, curb organized crime rings such as those involved in auto-theft, and strengthen relationships between police services, community-based organizations, and the public,” said Robin Martin, MPP, Eglinton-Lawrence.

Funding through the POC-FLP will help Toronto Police Service, in partnership with Victim Services Toronto and the Toronto District School Board, to develop and deliver an annual School Safety Symposium for Grade 7, 8 and 9 students.

The Symposium will cover prevention strategies to reduce involvement in or the impact of gang and street violence. In addition, it will also increase awareness about exploitations including human trafficking, intimate partner violence, unhealthy relationships, online dangers such as sexting and bullying, hate incidents and crimes affecting school-age youth.

“We’re using every tool including cash and proceeds seized from criminals to prevent crime and protect our communities,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “Thanks to the hard work of our men and women in uniform, these funds are being reinvested back into communities to help support victims, educate youth and increase awareness about crimes such as gang violence and hate.”

“Communities need to feel safe to thrive. This reinvestment of proceeds of crime into crime prevention initiatives is a welcome decision that will help the Toronto Police Service and our community partners at Victim Services Toronto and the TDSB in raising awareness of and to reduce incidence of violence and crimes affecting school-age youth, while also supporting our Service Priority of Supporting Safer Communities,” said Chief of the Toronto Police Service Myron Demkiw.

To date, the POC-FLP Grant program has funded 281 community safety projects across the province.

QUICK FACTS

• Ontario is investing more than $1.7 million to help stop hate-motivated crimes across the province.
• In November 2023, the Ontario government introduced the Enhancing Access to Justice Act, 2023 that will, if passed, make it easier for more victims of crime to sue an offender for emotional distress.
• Ontario is fighting auto theft by investing $51 million over three years to help police identify and dismantle organized crime networks and put thieves behind bars. This includes $18 million to support new and enhanced crime-fighting measures.
• Ontario is investing $112 million to help police track and monitor repeat and violent offenders who are released on bail. This includes $24 million to help police services establish dedicated bail compliance and/or warrant apprehension teams and support new technology for a provincewide bail compliance monitoring system.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Ontario Cracking Down on Crime

MEDIA CONTACT

Saurabh Kapoor, Constituency Assistant

Office of MPP Christine Hogarth, Etobicoke-Lakeshore

416-259-2249

saurabh.kapoor@pc.ola.org