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Federal funding helps increase security at Muslim places of worship
PAULA MCCOOEY
11-29-2017
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With hate-motivated crimes on the rise at religious centres around the world, the federal government has allocated funding to enhance security around places of worship.
The funding will support two projects in Ottawa. One will fund the installation of a security camera system inside and outside the Ottawa Muslim Association on Northwestern Avenue. The other will fund the same camera system at the association’s Hall of Peace. The funding — $46,000 — covers the security assessment and training on the use of security equipment and falls under the Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Program (SIP).
Catherine McKenna, minister of environment and climate change and MP for Ottawa Centre, made the announcement Monday on behalf of Ralph Goodale, minister of public safety and emergency preparedness.
“Recent incidents are a jarring reminder that the inclusive and generous Canada we all want is now, and ever will be, a precious and delicate work-in-progress that we dare not take for granted,” Goodale said in a written statement. “The Security Infrastructure Program is an important initiative to help protect all Canadians’ right to be free to practice their faith and culture without fear. There is no social license for hate, not in Canada.”
Naeem Malik president of the Ottawa Muslim Association was not available for comment. In a statement, he said the Ottawa mosque has been a target of “several” hate crimes in the last year.
For example, in April several windows were broken at the Ottawa Muslim Association. In the same week, the Islam Care Centre was targeted twice, once when windows were broken and another when someone left a hateful note and set fire to the building.
“These crimes showed us all as Canadians the importance of working together to protect our common values and the freedom that we all enjoy,” said Malik. “The funds received from Government of Canada will help the Association increase security around its properties, which protect worshippers and visitors to the mosque and provide a safe environment to offer prayers and perform religious practice.”
When combined with existing funding, SIP will invest up to $10 million over the next five years. Each year, $2 million will be available to help support not-for-profit organizations make needed security improvements. Approved projects may receive up to 50 per cent of total project costs, to a maximum of $100,000 per project.
“In the case of the two projects (at) the Ottawa Muslim Association has reported incidents of hate-motivated crime at their sites in the past, and their application met all of the program’s eligibility criteria,” said Jean-Philippe Levert, a spokesperson for Public Safety Canada.
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