Queen’s Park to spend $ 25M on grants to protect cultural communities from hate crimes

Premier Doug Ford’s government will spend $ 25 million to help protect places of worship and cultural community groups from hate crimes.

Citizenship and Multiculturalism Parm Gill said the new grant program is designed to cover the cost of installing security cameras, alarms, lighting, window and door upgrades, graffiti removal as well as other safety measures like staff training.

“We hope this grant will help support the important work these groups are doing and empower communities most at risk of being targeted with hate-motivated crime feel safer and more secure,” Gill said in a statement Thursday.

“Faith-based and cultural organizations across Ontario work hard to bring communities together and provide a safe and inclusive gathering space to worship, practice their religion and celebrate their culture,” the minister said.

“In recent years we have seen a disturbing rise in community-reported hate related crimes, including increased acts of antisemitism, Islamophobia and anti-Asian racism, which has placed tremendous burden on faith-based and cultural organizations,” he said.

“Creating safer communities and protecting the rights of everyone to live free of fear and intimidation will help build a more inclusive and equitable Ontario.”

Under the program – which is also open to registered charities and non-profit groups that host “regular gatherings of religious, spiritual or cultural significance at least once a month” – such organizations will receive one-time grants of up to $ 10,000.

Eligibility is based on a group’s annual revenue and applicants will have to show receipts for expenses incurred between April 1, 2021 and this March 31.

The government said the money can only be used “to enhance security of their facility, complete security assessments, and / or train their organizations on how to respond to a hate-motivated incident.”

Grants are not available for “sports organizations, teams and recreational, athletic, hobbies or games-oriented clubs” or “faith-based schools, cultural schools, seminaries and other institutions that provide theological instruction.” Nor are health-care, housing or social services groups eligible. Children and youth programs, theater and dance troupes, and business and political organizations are also ineligible.

The grants can not be used for benches, concrete barrier walls fingerprint reader systems, night vision goggles, body armor, projectors, security desk, radios, hidden cameras or dummy cameras, tire shredders and any other equipment or hardware not related to deterring hate- motivated crime. ”

Robert Benzie is the Star’s Queen’s Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie