GOV'T DIRECTS FUNDS TOWARD GANG, DRUG STRATEGIES

Funding, New Officers For Child Exploitation Units In Saskatoon,
Regina, P.A.

More police, a crackdown on gangs and child sexual predators and a
score of courthouse projects form a large chunk of the provincial
government's spending in 2007-08 to create safe communities.

But the budget announced Thursday by Finance Minister Andrew Thomson
is cryptic when it comes to specific details about the projects and
how the money will be spread around. It left potential beneficiaries
wondering about their share of the pie.

Saskatoon police Chief Clive Weighill and RCMP spokesperson Sgt. Brad
Kaeding were reluctant to comment until they get more clarity.

"We're happy anytime there's more funding for police or policing
issues but until we find out more there's not much we can say,"
Saskatoon Police Service spokesperson Alyson Edwards said.

There is $246 million allocated for Justice and $142.6 million for
Corrections and Public Safety in the province's $8.3 billion budget.

The capital portion of the provincial budget is $534.8 million, of
which Justice's share is $4.4 million while Corrections and Public
Safety receives $28 million. That is a combined increase of 61 per
cent over 2006-07.

Justice Department spokesperson Deb McEwan said much of the spending
is for multi-year projects previously announced, such as courthouse
restoration (November 2006), the gang strategy (November 2005) and
recommendations of the First Nations and Metis Peoples and Justice
Reform Commission report of 2004.

An investment of $1.6 million will increase the number of officers
assigned to gang and drug strategies. Nine RCMP officers will be
added, including three criminal intelligence analysts, along with two
Crown prosecutors devoted to those crimes.

Corrections and Public Safety is also receiving money for its role in
the gang strategy. A total of $1.6 million and 16.5 new full-time
equivalent positions will go toward better supervision of high-risk
offenders in the community. A further $486,000 will fund a new
supportive employment training program to help offenders reintegrate
into the community upon release from jail.

New child sexual exploitation units will be created with the province
dedicating $1.3 million for two additional city police officers in
both Regina and Saskatoon and one in Prince Albert. The funding also
covers an increase in resources directly related to the arrest and
prosecution of child sexual offenders.

The Department of Community Resources will receive $2.1 million to
expand outreach and treatment spaces for sexually exploited children.
It is estimated there are approximately 400 sexually exploited
children and youth in the province, according to the budget document.

Among the capital projects addressed in the budget is $2.7 million
worth of improved security at Saskatchewan's courthouses, including
airport-style, walk-through metal detectors in Saskatoon, Regina and
Prince Albert. There is $500,000 for the planning of courthouse
renovations in Saskatoon

A number of renovations will be undertaken in court facilities across
the province to create additional space.

Justice and Corrections will each receive $112,000 for the Justice
Enterprise Information Network (JEIN), a computer database system used
to track court decisions, fines and other information critical to the
operation of the justice system.