THUNDER BAY — Two organizations in Northwestern Ontario will receive funding from the province through an initiative to prevent youth from becoming involved in gun violence, gang activity and victimization, including human trafficking.
Dr. Merrilee Fullerton, the minister of Children, Community and Social Services announced support Tuesday for 11 new community-based programs in cities across the province and neighbouring Indigenous communities.
The minister said they will help youth find meaningful alternatives to violence, and to achieve better outcomes.
All the programs will be delivered by Indigenous and Black-led organizations supporting youth and young adults between 12 and 29.
In Thunder Bay, Nishnawbe-Aski Legal Services Corporation gets $325,000.
This will pay for an Alternative Dispute Resolution facilitator and an aftercare worker for Indigenous youth facing crisis, violence, human trafficking, homelessness, drug addiction, mental health issues, lack of education, legal issues, lack of life skills and basic needs.
In Kenora, Treaty Three Police Service receives $191,000 for a capacity building program for T3PS and partner agencies to build on work to protect women and girls from violence, and to provide them with tools and resources when leaving their home community to seek education.
"We know it's critical to intervene early and provide youth with supports that address the root causes that make them susceptible to violence and victimization, including through human trafficking," said Fullerton.
Since 2013, about 60 per cent of firearm-related cases in the Ontario Court of Justice have involved accused persons under the age of 29.
In 2019, 65 per cent of known human trafficking victims identified by police were under the age of 25.
The new initiative is part of Ontario's Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy.
