Believing that prevention is a key pillar in the fight against crime, the Quebec government announced additional funding on Thursday reaffirming the importance given to interventions with young people, particularly those at risk of delinquency.
Public Security Minister, Ian Lafrenière, who’s also Minister for First Nations and Inuit Relations, announced additional funding for several Montreal youth space projects to support organizations and stakeholders working directly with youth.
Nine youth-space projects will be renewed, and two new ones will be able to see the light of day thanks to financial support totalling more than $1.9 million.
“Fighting crime requires action on multiple fronts,” said Minister Lafrenière. “Prevention is just as important as repression. It is essential to capture young people, to work with them, to prevent them from being attracted to criminal organizations, too often to do their ‘dirty work’. They then find themselves caught in a spiral from which it is difficult to escape. Youth spaces have proven their worth and are an essential link in helping us fight crime and delinquency.”
Personalized support and access to activities
These nine projects, some of which are located in boroughs that are the subject of a special intervention by the City of Montreal (Ville-Marie and Montreal-North), will allow young people to benefit from personalized support, in addition to having access to counsellors and sports, cultural or creative activities, whether as part of their school career or outside of school hours.
“Prevention starts in our neighbourhoods,” said Dimitrios Jim Beis, responsible for safety and prevention at the City of Montreal.
“When we give young people spaces where they can find themselves, be supported and develop their potential, we create positive alternatives to the streets and criminal organizations. In Montreal, we believe that safety also depends on hope, opportunities, and the presence of committed adults in our neighbourhoods. Youth spaces play a critical role in providing these benchmarks and strengthening safety in our communities.”
