Kevin Wilson
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 05/02) - While money for crime prevention initiatives is welcome, one Yellowknife MLA says it's not enough.

With NWT Justice Minister Roger Allen looking on, Western Arctic Liberal MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew announces $1.9 million in crime prevention funding. - Kevin Wilson/NNSL photo

Using the Abe Miller Centre as a backdrop, Western Arctic MP Ethel Blondin-Andrew announced $1.9 million for crime prevention initiatives across the NWT Tuesday. The bulk of that money will go to an early intervention project designed by Yellowknife Education District 1.

The money is from the federal government's national strategy on community safety and crime prevention.

With territorial Justice Minister Roger Allen and several Yellowknife MLAs looking on, Blondin-Andrew told the crowded room that while, "police, courts, and incarceration are necessary...we must get tough on crime prevention."

Allen said he was, "grateful to the federal government for having the vision to create this strategy."

Range Lake MLA Sandy Lee that while the NWT, "needs as much crime prevention programs as possible," she wants to see police funding in the capital increase.

"I'm very concerned about the RCMP...the budget for police has been chronically short-funded," said Lee.

In February, Yellowknife detachment commander Staff Sgt. Terry Scott said his officers were "burning out" and warned police would not be able to provide the level of service expected by the community.

Following a public outcry, RCMP "G" division said that service levels would remain the same.

Blondin-Andrew pledged cheques for the programs would be issued soon.

"The most effective way (to reduce crime) is to have early intervention and prevention."

Programs in Yellowknife receiving crime prevention funds:

• YK Education District 1--$1,486,755 for its Restitution Peace Project, an early intervention approach aimed at children from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
• J.H. Sissons School--$25,000 for Phase II of its own restitution peace project.
• Grollier Hall Residential School Healing Circle--$25,000 for development and testing a model for working with partners and spouses of people struggling with impacts of residential school abuse.
• NWT Status of Women Council--$25,000 to hire a researcher-co-ordinator to gather information on family violence programs in the NWT.
• Yellowknife Association for Community Living--$14,000 for a project on crime prevention in Deninoo and Yellowknife.
• Yellowknife Foster Family Association--$20,000 to assist hosting, planning and co-ordinating an annual symposium.
• Yellowknife Women's Centre--$25,000 for Phase II of its Children Who Witness Abuse program.
• Yellowknives Dene First Nation--$25,000 for a youth program.