Toronto – Canada’s Government Supports Community Organizations Targeted by Hate Crime

Toronto – The Honourable Jim Flaherty, Minister of Finance, on behalf of the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Stockwell Day, announced support for ten Jewish community organizations to assist them with security infrastructure enhancements.

“In July 2007, our Government announced the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Pilot Program,” said Minister Flaherty. “Today’s announcement demonstrates our government’s leadership and commitment to protecting the right of all Canadians to live in a society where every citizen is safe in their community.”

The Security Infrastructure Pilot (SIP) Program is a $3 million, two-year pilot program administered by Public Safety Canada. The program helps defray the costs of security infrastructure enhancements at not-for-profit community centres, provincially recognized educational institutions, and places of worship that are clearly linked to a community with a demonstrated history of being victimized by hate-motivated crime.

The announcement will see up to $392,735 program funding provided to the ten community organizations to help with security improvement costs.

Eligible costs include:

– security assessments;

– security equipment and hardware, such as alarm systems, closed-circuit televisions, fences, gates, lighting, intercom systems;

– minor construction costs related to the project, such as contractor fees, labour, equipment rental, installation fees; and

– training costs for the use of new security equipment.

Thus far, the SIP Program is providing funding to 38 organizations across Canada.

For more information, please visit the website www.publicsafety.gc.ca.

The following ten community organizations from Ontario received contribution funding to support their efforts to enhancing various security infrastructure needs. Additional funded organizations will be announced separately.

– Beth Avraham Yoseph of Toronto Congregation (Toronto – $100,000) is the largest orthodox Jewish congregation in North America. The facility serves as centre point of Jewish community, holding daily services, social events (weddings), Jewish holidays, and Sabbath.

– Bialik Hebrew Day School (Toronto – $39,595) is a Jewish day school for students from junior kindergarten to grade 8.

– B’nai Brith Canada (Toronto – $62,183) brings Jewish men and women together to serve the community by reaching out to those in need, by fighting anti-Semitism, racism, and bigotry, in Canada and around the world.

– Chabad at Flamingo (Thornhill – $16,977) is a place of worship that preaches, promotes and advances the spiritual teachings of the Jewish faith by practicing the religious observances, tenets and doctrines associated with traditional Judaism.

– Eitz Chaim Schools (Viewmount, Toronto – $26,640) instils within students the skills to understand and succeed in today’s world in accordance with Torah values and ideals.

– Eitz Chaim Schools (Patricia, Toronto – $26,640) instils within students the skills to understand and succeed in today’s world in accordance with Torah values and ideals.

– Jewish Community Centre of Hamilton & Area with Hamilton Jewish Communal projects Inc. (Hamilton – $7,500). The Jewish Community Centre of Hamilton and Area provides social, educational, recreational and cultural services within the framework of Jewish tradition.

– Netivot HaTorah Day School (Thornhill – $6,400) is a coeducational elementary Jewish day school with full Jewish and General Studies programs, for students from nursery to Grade 8.

– UJA Federation of Greater Toronto (North York – $95,000) acts as an umbrella organization for agencies providing educational, social, advocacy and social services needs of the Jewish community and broader community as well.

– United Synagogue Day School (Bayview, Toronto – $11,800) provides integrated Judaic and General studies education to students.