Backgrounder

For Immediate Release
September 1, 2005

TORONTO — The McGuinty government is working with the Toronto Police Service to stop gun violence in our communities and help rid our streets of illegal guns. The new initiatives are another step in the province's comprehensive approach to keep guns off our streets and keep our communities safe.

New initiatives announced today:

• Developing "blitz" inspections of gun businesses to ensure gun storage and safe keeping standards are being met
• Creating a gun amnesty to get illegal guns off the street
• Improving Ontario's witness protection program to encourage more community members to come forward when they have witnessed a serious crime and
• Implementing new and innovative ways for Crowns to bring community impact evidence before the courts in seeking tougher sentences.

Previous gun-violence reduction and justice initiatives:

• Anti-Guns and Gang Unit - Created by the Attorney General, the unit is made up of senior police officers and expert Crown prosecutors who work together from day one of an investigation to get special warrants and wire taps, gather evidence and secure witnesses.
• Safer Communities - 1,000 Officers Partnership Program - The McGuinty government has launched the program to help municipalities hire 1000 new police officers - half of those earmarked for community policing. 500 officers will be allocated to six priority areas identified by the government in its fight against crime, one of which is guns and gangs.
• Stiffer Sentences - The anti-guns and gang unit has developed, and will continue to supplement, a firearms prosecution package available to Crown counsel as a resource in seeking tougher sentences.
• PEACE Project - The Province provides funding for the Toronto Police Services' "Project PEACE" which is working with young people and the community to directly target the problem of gun violence.
• Youth-at-risk Summer Job Initiative - For two years, the government has supported and helped fund the City of Toronto's Summer Jobs program that created 300 jobs for youth at risk.
• Community use of Schools - In the summer of 2004, the Province added $20 million in annualized funding to reduce user fees for, and increase hours of access to, community use of schools.
• Mandatory Gun Shot Reporting - The McGuinty government passed legislation requiring public hospitals and other prescribed health-care facilities to report the names of people who are treated for gun shot wounds to their local police service.
• Specialized Crowns - There are currently 12 Crown prosecutors in the Toronto region with specialized training in prosecution of firearms offences who provide expert legal advice to the police and oversee the prosecution of firearm cases.
• Hired Additional Crowns - 50 new Crown prosecutors have been added and Crown resources have been committed to the anti-guns and gangs unit.
• 32 New Judges - The Attorney General has announced the appointment of 32 judges and additional court staff.
• Organized Crime Task Force - A senior Crown has been assigned to work with the Joint Forces Organized Crime Task Force to assist with gangs and organized crime cases.
• Major Case Advisory Group/Major Case Prosecution Team - The Major Case Advisory Group supports Crowns working on major cases or mega trials and helps develop prosecution strategies to deal with those types of cases. The Major Case Prosecution Team consists of eight Crowns who assist with major cases and free up senior prosecutors to dedicate themselves to major cases.
• Multi-Governmental Approach - Discussions with the provincial attorneys general and the federal justice minister are ongoing. Ontario is calling for a general review of the sentencing regime in the Criminal Code relating to firearms and a review of the Youth Criminal Justice Act to ensure that it is adequate in addressing the extent of the problem of firearms-related offences in the young offender context.
• Strong Crown Policy Direction - The Crown policy and practice memoranda give clear direction on firearms issues, including:
• • Crown prosecutors are instructed not to withdraw or plea-bargain firearms-related offences for expediency.
  • The Crown must also seek appropriate sentences that will act as a deterrent and, in serious cases, consider seeking sentences higher than the mandatory minimum.
• Addressing Illegal Gun Flow Across the Border - Premier McGuinty recently discussed the issue of guns smuggled across the border with the U.S. Ambassador to Canada.
• Youth Justice Committees - The Youth Justice Committee program, a youth diversion program which holds low-risk young offenders accountable and prevents them from re-offending, has recently been expanded to three Toronto communities: Malvern, Jane and Finch, and Jamestown. The government has also doubled funding for the program over the term of its mandate for further expansion to even more communities.

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