📋 Tender Overview
People in Calgary and communities across Canada deserve to feel safe in their communities. Thats why the Government of Canada is taking action with a comprehensive plan that gets guns off our streets and puts more resources into our communities. An important element of this work is stopping violence before it starts which is why the Government launched the 250 million Building Safer Communities Fund BSCF. First announced in March 2022 the BSCF supports local initiatives that prevent gun and gang violence and help young people make good choices.Today the Honourable Marco Mendicino Minister of Public Safety announced that the City of Calgary will receive up to 7.7 million from the BSCF to prevent gun crime and gang violence. This funding will help address the underlying conditions that give rise to crime. The municipality will distribute it to community-led projects for young people involved in gangs or at risk of joining them helping them set themselves up for success in life.No single program or initiative can tackle the challenge of gun crime on its own. The BSCF is one of many elements in the Governments plan to keep Canadians safe.This begins with strong borders where weve invested nearly a half billion dollars over the past two years and deepened cooperation with the United States to fight gun smuggling. It includes strong legislative and regulatory action. Three years ago the Government banned over 1500 models of assault-style firearms and last year implemented a freeze on the sale purchase and transfer of handguns. These are central elements of Bill C-21 Canadas most significant action on gun violence in a generation which also proposes significant provisions to combat organized crime and address the alarming role of guns in domestic violence. Finally it includes strong prevention strategies like todays announcement to stop gun violence before it starts.QuotesMy number one priority as Minister of Public Safety is keeping Canadians safe. Investments in grassroots efforts in Calgary are essential to addressing the social conditions that lead youth and young adults to get involved in a life of crime. Put simply we must stop gun and gang violence before it starts.- The Honourable Marco Mendicino Minister of Public SafetyAs a City Councillor I brought forward a Public Safety Task Force to better understand and help our City respond to an increase in gun and gang violence. This work remains just as important today and as the MP for Calgary Skyview Im excited to see BSCF being deployed in Calgary neighbourhoods. Our young people deserve the support to develop resilience and lead lives free of crime and violence.- George Chahal Member of Parliament for Calgary Skyview
