GOVERNMENT OF CANADA AWARDS FUNDS TO PROMOTE SAFETY OF WOMEN AND YOUTH IN RURAL NEW BRUNSWICK COMMUNITIES

SHEDIAC, August 26, 2002 -- Today, the Honourable Martin Cauchon, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada announced jointly with the Honourable Margaret-Ann Blaney, New Brunswick Public Safety Minister and Minister responsible for the Status of Women, that the Government of Canada is contributing $30,000 to support two initiatives that work to prevent crime and victimization among women and youth in rural New Brunswick Communities.

The Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre in Shediac and a rural outreach initiative of the Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre will each receive $15,000 under the National Crime Prevention Strategy.

Minister Cauchon made the announcement during a visit to the Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre, an organization that works to counter family violence and promote healthy families in Shediac/Cap-Pelé and neighbouring communities. The Honourable Joan MacAlpine, Minister of Family and Community Services for New Brunswick attended on behalf of Minister Blaney.

"The strength of the National Strategy lies in the diversity of partners working together to address the social problems of crime and victimization," said Minister Cauchon.  "By building on existing community strengths to support people who may become involved with or affected by criminal activity, these organizations are demonstrating that they share the goals of the National Strategy, and we are proud to partner with them."

Minister Blaney expressed enthusiastic support for the decision to fund these projects under the National Strategy's Community Mobilization Program.

"The Province of New Brunswick considers youth issues and concerns about violence and sexual assault against women to be major priorities that require a strategic approach involving support from all levels of society," Blaney stated. "These initiatives are excellent in that they take a proactive approach to addressing urban and rural problems head-on through prevention, increased public awareness and education."

The Beauséjour Family Crisis Resource Centre's project, Ensemble pour contrer le taux de criminalité chez les jeunes dans nos communautés, arose from local concerns about a recent increase in youth crime.   Project partners that include the regional high school, police, other government representatives and community service agencies will work with local youth in Grades 9-12 to develop a plan to improve community safety for everyone. The central concept of recognizing and breaking cycles of interpersonal and family violence to improve personal and community safety will be highlighted.

"On the eve of our Centre's fifth anniversary, we've chosen to organize a forum that brings together youth and a range of service providers, with a focus on eliminating violence in our communities," said Eva LeBlanc, Executive Director of the Family Crisis Resource Centre. "We're very pleased to receive support for this initiative this year."

The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre's project, Aware and Supportive Communities: A Rural Focus, will help support the development of local action groups to address the problem of sexual violence against women in rural communities.  By raising awareness and providing interventions that will better equip small and isolated communities to respond proactively to attitudes and behaviours that condone sexual aggression, these efforts will promote personal and social changes that contribute to safer communities and reduced victimization.

"The Fredericton Sexual Assault Crisis Centre is the only agency of its kind in New Brunswick, and we are often called upon to help address the gap in crisis response and prevention services in communities throughout the province," explained Lorraine Whalley, Executive Director of the Sexual Assault Crisis Centre.  "This project funding will be a wonderful support for our outreach work." 

Phase II of the National Strategy was launched in June 1998 and is jointly administered by the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, the Honourable Martin Cauchon, and the Solicitor General of Canada, the Honourable Lawrence MacAulay.  It takes an early-intervention approach to prevention and community safety through the support of grass-roots responses that deal with the underlying causes of crime and victimization; things such as family violence, school problems and substance abuse.  The National Strategy supports community organizations with financial support, as well as tools, knowledge, and expertise on effective crime prevention activities.

The National Strategy has identified children, youth, women's personal security and Aboriginal communities as its four principle priorities.

In July of 2001, the Government of Canada announced the investment of a further $145 million over four years, in addition to the $32 million per year the Strategy already receives. Since its launch in 1998, Phase II has supported more than 2,200 projects in over
600 communities across the country.  For more information, please consult the attached Backgrounder or visit http://www.prevention.gc.ca/. 

Support for the projects announced today has been provided under the National Strategy's Community Mobilization Program, which is administered jointly in New Brunswick by the Government of Canada and the Province of New Brunswick.

Funding for these projects was provided for in the December 2001 budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.

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Ref.:

Mark Stokes
National Crime Prevention Strategy
(613) 954-1721

Ron Akerley
Department of Public Safety, New Brunswick
(506) 444-5267

Suzanne Thébarge
Minister Cauchon's Office
(613) 992-4621