MESSAGES:

• Criminals are always finding new ways of covering their tracks, but our government is determined to ensure municipalities and police services have the tools and resources they need to detect criminal activity and keep Ontarians safe.

That is why we are providing $1 million in 2021-2022 to help police services across the province expand coverage of closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems, a key tool in the fight against guns and gangs and other criminal activity.

The grant program, launched in August 2020, represents an investment of $6 million over three fiscal years (2020-21 to 2022-23).

Our frontline police, the heroes we rely on to bring criminals to justice, tell us that CCTV technology works and is one of the best tools we have to gain critical advantage over criminal organizations.

Gang members are less likely to commit a crime if they are at a great risk of being caught. And video footage of crimes committed will help with investigations, identify suspects, and support prosecutions to keep criminals off our streets.

This announcement is part of our government’s approximate $185 million investment to combat gun and gang violence across the province in partnership with the federal government. https://news.ontario.ca/en/release/1001479/ontario-building-safer-communities-through-additional-cctv-camera-investments