Minister Day Supports A Youth Crime Prevention Project In Merritt British Columbia

May 30, 2008

MERRITT — The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today announced funding to help local at-risk Aboriginal youth in Merritt, British Columbia get involved in the community, steer away from a lifestyle of crime, and make better life decisions. He made the announcement while addressing the Merritt Walk of Stars Gala Dinner.

“The Government of Canada is committed to focusing crime prevention funding on those who are most at-risk, and on projects that demonstrate they work,” said Minister Day. “I applaud the efforts of the Merritt Walk of Stars Society for developing a local solution to assist approximately 50 at-risk Aboriginal youth in the Nicola Valley lead productive and positive lives. As Minister of Public Safety and Member of Parliament for this area, I am proud to support this initiative.”

The Government of Canada is providing close to $700,000 to support the Merritt Youth Mural crime prevention project, which is sponsored by the Merritt Walk of Stars Society. This total includes $600,000 over three years from the National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC), and close to $100,000 in Youth Skills Link funding from Service Canada.

“We are proud to help fund this project through Youth Skills Link funding,” said the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. “This funding will go a long way to helping give the young people involved in the project the skills and work experience they need to find and keep good quality jobs.”

“We applaud the federal government’s investment in providing positive opportunities for BC’s youth through initiatives like the Merritt Youth Mural Project,” said the Honourable John van Dongen, British Columbia Solicitor General and Minister of Public Safety. “The province is pleased the funding is addressing root causes that put youth at risk and will add to our initiatives already underway addressing youth gang violence and sexual exploitation of youth.”

The Merritt Youth Mural Project located in the downtown core of Merritt, British Columbia, will work with Aboriginal youth aged 15 to 24 involved in criminal activity and/or at risk of abusing substances. This project, administered by the Merritt Walk of Stars Society, will address multiple risk factors in Aboriginal youth to divert them away from violence and crime toward leading more productive and positive lives.

Crime prevention priorities are established in partnership with stakeholders, using careful analysis of key crime trends. Priorities for funding include:

• supporting vulnerable families and children at risk;
• preventing youth gang and drug-related crime;
• preventing recidivism among high-risk groups; and
• fostering prevention in Aboriginal communities.
  

Budget 2008 provides $30 million per year in ongoing funds to the National Crime Prevention Strategy. The Strategy is administered by Public Safety Canada's National Crime Prevention Centre (NCPC) and is managed in collaboration with the provinces and territories. Funding is given to strategically selected projects that contribute to preventing and reducing crime as well as increasing knowledge about what works in crime prevention.