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Ministry of the Attorney General Ministère du Procureur général PDF Version

For Immediate Release
December 6, 2006



ONTARIO RENEWS CALLS FOR VIGILANCE AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE



TORONTO — At a vigil to mark the 17th anniversary of the Montreal Massacre and three months after the shooting spree at Dawson College, Ontario's Attorney General Michael Bryant renewed his call for all levels of government to do everything within their power to fight gun crime.

"On this day of all days, we need to remember the victims and their families and renew our commitment to work together to end gun violence once and for all," said Bryant.

"On this anniversary of that tragic day in 1989 when so many vital young women were killed, it is only appropriate that we rededicate ourselves to improving supports for victims of violence," said the Minister Responsible for Women's Issues Sandra Pupatello.

Ontario continues to press the federal government to implement a handgun ban and maintain the federal gun registry.

"We know handguns are the weapon of choice for many criminals and we believe Ontarians, and indeed all Canadians, would be better protected with a handgun ban and are safer with the federal gun registry in place," said Bryant.

The McGuinty government has long advocated for both increased mandatory minimum sentences and bail reform for gun crimes and supports two federal bills, C-10 and C-35 that, if passed, would implement tougher mandatory minimum jail sentences and reverse the onus for bail for serious gun crimes.

The province remains committed to doing all it can to fight gun crime. That is why it is implementing a $51-million package of initiatives, including:

  • Expanding the number of Crown prosecutors working on the Guns and Gangs Task Force. Currently, 60 Crown prosecutors have been assigned to this task force, and more will be in position by the end of the year. When fully staffed, the task force will have 64 Crowns, including dedicated prosecutors, working in every region of the province
  • Establishing a state-of-the-art provincial operations centre to allow for highly co-ordinated investigations and prosecutions of gun and gang-related offences. Scheduled to open in January 2007, it will be located in the Greater Toronto Area. The centre will house the Guns and Gangs Task Force, which includes the Toronto Police Service, Ontario Provincial Police, a team of specialized Crown prosecutors, support staff, probation and parole officers and a victims unit
  • Providing $14 million to fast track the hiring of 1,000 additional police officers in 2006. Currently, 970 additional officers are or will soon be on the street. At the request of municipal partners, the remaining 30 officers will be hired and trained in early 2007.

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Contacts:
Brendan Crawley
Ministry of the Attorney General
Communications Branch
(416) 326-2210


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