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Ontario Strengthening Supports to Combat Hate and Create Safer Communities

Manjit Sing

Province unveils new grant to help keep faith and cultural communities safe

The Ontario government is effective financial planning $25.5 million more than two years to assist with tending to the ascent of disdain occurrences against strict and minority gatherings. The new Enemy of Disdain Security and Counteraction Award will help religious and social associations improve or carry out measures to guarantee local area spaces stay completely safe.

Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism Michael Ford stated, “No Ontarian should live in fear that they will be targeted because of their background, who they love, or how they worship.” Expanding on our different speculations to battle disdain, the new Enemy of Disdain Security and Counteraction Award will assist with building more grounded, more secure and more comprehensive networks and guarantee everybody has a protected climate to rehearse their confidence and express their way of life and convictions.”

The grant, which can be up to $10,000, will help religious, Indigenous, and cultural communities better secure and protect their buildings from graffiti, vandalism, hate crimes, and other forms of damage. Award subsidizing can be utilized for things like structure overhauls, upgrading locks, introducing cameras, preparing staff, finishing security appraisals, presenting more secure online protection measures, employing transient expert security faculty and making fixes.

Michael Kerzner, Ontario’s Solicitor General, stated, “Everyone in Ontario deserves to be safe in their communities.” We have a zero-resistance strategy with regards to loathe and these awards will assist with giving free from even a hint of harm regions so that individuals can love in harmony. The people of this province will continue to be protected by us.

Through the Ontario Grant, the government has provided anti-hate security measures for faith-based and cultural organizations with $40 million since 2021. More organizations are now eligible to apply for the redesigned Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant, which will now cover the costs of additional measures for capacity building and prevention.

These organizations are eligible:

  • Religious and spiritual communities (e.g., mosques, synagogues, temples, churches, etc.)
  • First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous organizations
  • Cultural groups (e.g., 2SLGBTQQIA+ groups, Black, Asian and other diverse organizations offering programs, workshops and ceremonies that promote their communities’ cultures)

Applications for the Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant will open in summer 2023.

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