January 7, 2014 – Maskwacis, Alberta

Member of Parliament for Wetaskiwin, Blaine Calkins, on behalf of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Minister Steven Blaney, was in Maskwacis (formerly Hobbema) today to announce $2,895,321 in federal funding for a new crime prevention project targeting gang violence in the First Nation communities of Samson Cree Nation, Ermineskin First Nation, Louis Bull First Nation and Montana First Nation.

The Maskwacis Conflict Resolution Program: Maskwacis Youth Initiative, run by the Samson Cree Nation, will work with approximately 600 Aboriginal youth, aged 14-25, who are either gang involved or at risk of gang involvement and violent behaviour. By promoting community involvement, education and employment skills, and counselling programs, the project will help youth make smart choices and avoid involvement in criminal activity. 

Quick Facts

• From April 2012 to March 2013, our Government funded 105 active, multi-year community-based crime prevention projects through the National Crime Prevention Centre, in which more than 16,000 at-risk youth participated.
• As part of these efforts to tackle crime, in 2012 our Government committed up to $10 million per year toward new crime prevention projects under the National Crime Prevention Strategy’s Crime Prevention Action Fund.

Quotes

“I am pleased to announce our support for a project that will make a difference for the community of Maskwacis.  Along with our partners, we are taking steps to tackle gang violence, while providing at-risk youth with the tools and opportunities to steer clear of crime. This project is another example of how our Government is helping build stronger, safer communities.”

By:IANS