THUNDER BAY - The city’s mayor took an opportunity during Tuesday’s police services board meeting to emphasize again the need for more funding for the increase in crime related to guns and gangs in the city of Thunder Bay.
“As a board, we have talked a fair bit in terms of trying to get the province to assist with guns and gangs,” Police Services board member and Mayor Bill Mauro said during Tuesday’s meeting, Oct. 20.
Mauro stated he spoke with the province’s Solicitor General last week on a non-related topic but took the opportunity to raise the issue of funding during his phone call.
“We have been consistently over the year and a half we have been together as a board requesting to the province for more assistance on government grants that are available,” he said. “I used the opportunity when she called me on another issue to once again reinforce our hope that as a police services board, as a council, we would be interested in further assistance if the province had any capacity to do that.
Mauro explained how the city of Thunder Bay has been dealing with an influx of crime related to guns and gangs for the last five years.
“The challenges we have now are not challenges we have faced in the past,” he said, adding the city’s police service continues to evolve and do the best with the resources they have.
Thunder Bay Chief of Police Sylvie Hauth said during Tuesday’s meeting, the city’s police force received $100,000 per year for the next three years for guns and gang issues in the communities.
“The amount is not monumental however we are guaranteed a $100,000 for the next three years,” she said.
Last year, the federal government announced $65 million to go towards Ontario communities dealing with guns and gang issues however Thunder Bay did not receive any of this funding.
Six positions remain unfilled in the police service’s gang and guns unit.
“The funding is there...hopefully we will see those positions filled sooner rather than later," Mauro said.
