Government of Canada helps Calgary church protect itself against hate-motivated crimes
CALGARY, AB, May 1, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs, announced a federal investment of $10,740 to the Calgary Life Church through the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).
This investment enabled the Calgary Life Church to purchase and install access control, motion detectors, door contacts, and glass break detectors.
Since 2007, the Government of Canada has invested a total of $24.5 million in over 770 projects to help Canadian communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes protect and strengthen the security of their community centres, places of worship and other institutions.
Quote(s)
"All Canadians deserve to feel safe in their community, no matter their faith. We will keep working with community groups across the country to bolster their security and ensure they can live without fearing for their safety."
- The Honourable Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs
"We are thankful that the Canadian government recognizes the positive impact that churches have on their surrounding communities, and that it does its part to support churches and other religious groups with funding to keep communities feeling safe. Maintaining our freedom of religion and being able to practice our faith in peace and safety is a huge value."
- Travis Broadhead, Office Manager, Calgary Life Church
Quick Facts
- The SIP is designed to help communities at risk of hate-motivated crime improve their security infrastructure, which will help make Canada safer for all Canadians.
- $15 million has been invested through the SIP in over 600 projects.
- Funding is available to private 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.
- Interested organizations representing places of worship, provincially and territorially recognized private educational institutions, community centres and shelters serving victims of gender-based violence can learn more about the SIP through Public Safety Canada's website.
- In 2023-24, through the Expanded Security Infrastructure Program (ESIP), the Government of Canada invested an additional $9.5 million in 173 projects.
- Organizations who become a victim of a significant and direct hate-motivated crime against their facility may qualify for the Severe Hate-Motivated Incident Support (SHMIS) stream, a prioritized process to receive SIP funding that is accessible outside the regular annual Call for Applications period. Interested organizations can learn more about the SHMIS stream through Public Safety Canada's website.
Associated Links
- Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program
- Supporting communities at risk of hate-motivated crime through an expanded Security Infrastructure Program
- Additional $5 million announced to support communities at risk of hate-motivated crimes
SOURCE Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Canada
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