Windsor – Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Member of Parliament for Windsor–Tecumseh, announced an investment of $96,443 to religious organizations in Windsor through the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP). The recipients of the funding and its breakdown are as follows:
- Gracanica Serbian Eastern Orthodox Church – $12,726
- St Mary And St Moses Coptic Orthodox Church – $82,446
- Congregation Beth El – $1,271
Everyone who lives in Canada deserves to be and feel safe in their communities. These last few years, we’ve witnessed a rise in hate incidents experienced by many communities. This is unacceptable, and the federal government is taking action to combat hate and protect communities.
On September 24, 2024, the Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs announced that the SIP would be replaced and enhanced by the new Canada Community Security Program (CCSP).
The CCSP covers and expands upon the eligible activities under the SIP. Current eligible measures include security equipment and hardware, minor renovations to enhance security, security and emergency assessments and plans, training to respond to hate-motivated events, and time-limited third-party licensed security personnel.
Organizations that currently have an application under SIP have been contacted by Public Safety to discuss the status of the application and their option to continue under the CCSP.
Organizations interested in staying informed about the upcoming CCSP Call for Applications are encouraged to subscribe to the National Crime Prevention Strategy mailing list.
“The Government of Canada is steadfast in its commitment to making sure all Canadians feel safe – regardless of where they work, gather and pray. Since 2019, our federal government has invested millions of dollars in Windsor and Essex County to prevent crime, reduce hate-motivated incidents and to create a safer Canada for all. There is more work to be done, but today’s announcement is another important step in the right direction for our community.” – Irek Kusmierczyk, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion and Member of Parliament for Windsor–Tecumseh, on behalf of Dominic LeBlanc, Minister of Public Safety, Democratic Institutions and Intergovernmental Affairs