PUTTING MORE OFFICERS ON THE STREET

People should feel safe and secure in their homes, places of work and
communities.

This is a basic principle. Safe communities are strong communities.
And it is strong communities that build a prosperous Ontario.

Our government has always placed a high premium in making our
communities safer. That's why, during the election, we promised to
help municipalities hire 1,000 new police officers across the province.

With a recent announcement by Monte Kwinter, the Minister of
Community Safety and Correctional Services, I'm happy to say we're
delivering on that promise.

Through our Safer Communities- 1,000 Officers Partnership Program,
$37.1 million will be invested every year to help strengthen
municipal police services.

As part of this program, 500 officers will be designated for
community-based policing, and the other 500 will focus on six
specific priority areas of great concern to Ontarians:

Youth crime;

Guns and gangs (of particular concern of late in the GTA);

Organized crime, especially marijuana grow ops;

Dangerous offenders;

Domestic violence;

Protecting children from Internet luring and child pornography.

Northern and First Nations communities, long ignored by previous
governments, stand to benefit greatly from this initiative.

Under a new grant formula, Northern and First Nations communities
qualify for enhanced funding, capping off at $70,000 per officer
annually. Sixty officer positions are being reserved for those same
communities, with the remaining 940 positions receiving a funding cap
of $35,000 per officer annually.

We have also earmarked 400 positions for officers hired since Oct.
23, 2003, the beginning of our mandate. That means that officers who
have already been hired and trained will be eligible for funding
under our program.

With more police officers focusing on community policing,
particularly in serious areas such as guns and gangs, an increased
police presence will make a world of difference in fighting crime and
making our streets more secure.

As Peel Regional Police Chief Noel P. Catney put it: "Policing in
today's environment unquestionably poses unique challenges to all men
and women seized with providing personal safety and security. I, and
all members of Peel Regional Police, deeply appreciate the sincere
commitment of Minister Kwinter and his ministry in allocating
additional funds, allowing us to hire police officers, thereby adding
to front line response."

Here are other measures are also being implemented to further reduce crime:

Ontario is the first province to enact legislation requiring
mandatory reporting of gun shot wounds by health professionals; our
Attorney General is leading the discussion with the federal
government calling for the elimination of conditional sentences for
gun crimes and reviewing the application and effectiveness of the
10-year mandatory minimum sentencing for gun crimes; We introduced
new legislation to help local authorities identify and combat indoor
marijuana grow-ops. The illicit drug trade helps fuel the illicit
firearms market. And these markets are very lucrative, since firearms
often command between two and five times their original cost; And to
ensure that offenders are better supported and supervised upon their
release into the community, we recently hired 40 more parole and
probation officers.

At the heart of our government's approach is a desire to be tough on
crime and tough on the causes of crime.

We have also extended in perpetuity the existing Community Policing
Partnership that also helps to fund 1,000 police officers per year.
Across the province, our government will help pay for 2,000 police
officers a year, every year.

Our government knows that safer communities lead to more prosperous
communities.

And by placing 1,000 more police officer on our streets, our
government is moving closer to achieving its goal of making Ontario a
more secure, stronger province for future generations to come.