CHIEF CALLS FUNDING 'ONTARIO-WIDE SOLUTION'

$12 Million Injection To Fight Crime

Some $12 million to help police fight crime and violence is an
"Ontario-wide solution," according to the local chief of police.

The funding, which includes $6.3 million to expand a successful
anti-guns and gangs and anti-violence intervention program to
communities outside of Toronto, will still support the municipality,
said City of Kawartha Lakes Police Service Chief John Hagarty.

"Although we didn't see any direct revenue, we should see the benefits
of crime prevention," he said, explaining how funding for police in
the Golden Horseshoe and Greater Toronto Areas will solve the problems
before they spread here.

"We'll all benefit as a result of that. It's an Ontario-wide
solution," he said Thursday morning.

Durham and York police will be among those sharing the $6.3 million.
The Ontario Association of Chiefs of Police welcomed the Wednesday
announcements, which also included $400,000 to create a provincial
advisory group on Marijuana Grow Operations that will work with local
communities to counter the threat to emergency responders and the public.

Some $2 million was also announced to help dismantle Crystal
Methamphetamine labs and to target the organizations that run them and
$1 million to help OPP work with municipal police to identify, locate,
seize and forfeit the illegal gains from criminal organizations.

Crown Attorneys will also get $1.4 million to improve responses to gun
crimes while $900,000 will help a new intelligence unit to help
identify gang members in provincial jails and to reduce criminal activity.