QUEBEC MOHAWK COMMUNITIES TARGETED FOR CRIME-PREVENTION
FUNDING

The federal government will be working to tackle crime issues in
several Mohawk communities in Quebec, after recent allegations of
spending issues with policing.

Stockwell Day, Minister of Public Safety, today announced a total of
$356,550 in funding to support two crime prevention community-based
projects, one for the community of Wendake and the other for First
Nation communities in Quebec.

"Canada's New Government is providing support to Quebec's youth at
risk and helping to prevent them from committing crimes or joining
gangs," said Minister Day. "These projects will support Quebec's
Aboriginal communities, such as Wendake, and encourage Aboriginal
youth to make positive and healthy life choices," he added.

"I am grateful to the aboriginal organizations from my constituency
who work together with the federal government to help prevent
criminal activities in the Quebec Region. It is with this kind of
partnership that we will be able to build a more equitable and secure
society", said the Honourable Josee Verner, Minister of International
Cooperation, Minister for La Francophonie and Official Languages, and
Minister responsible for the Quebec Region.

The Conseil en education des Premieres Nations du Quebec is receiving
$100,000 for its Nutapinanu project, which is aimed at strengthening
sustainable community action to support the prevention of violence
and substance abuse. It will raise awareness among Aboriginal
adolescents with regard to staying in school by providing examples of
positive role models.

The project will give young people the opportunity to participate in
the production of a series of thirteen television programs. The
half-hour shows will be lead by two aboriginal youth and filmed in
six communities. It will be broadcast on the Aboriginal Peoples
Television Network and on the Canal Savoir.

Similarly, the Centre de sante Marie-Paule-Sioui-Vincent is receiving
$256,550 for its Parentochtone project, which is aimed at maintaining
and helping develop parenting skills in order to prevent juvenile
delinquency, crime and victimization in Aboriginal families in the
Wendake community. Studies have shown a strong correlation between
neglect, abuse, poor parental skills and teen drug use. Often, the
first step toward delinquency and criminal behaviour is teen drug use.

Today's event follows a $10 million crime prevention announcement
made on November 6, 2006 to support community-based crime prevention
initiatives in Quebec that address crime and street gang issues,
through the National Crime Prevention Centre. Canada's New Government
is getting things done for Quebec by increasing community action to
prevent crime, develop and share knowledge of effective crime
prevention strategies, and coordinate multi-level support for crime prevention.