McGuinty Government Steps Up Efforts To Fight Crime

     Additional Officers For OPP, New Joint Forces Teams To Target Guns, Gangs

     TORONTO, July 27 /CNW/ - Premier Dalton McGuinty today said his

government is taking further action to fight gun crime by putting another 200

OPP officers on the streets and called on the federal government to live up to

its commitment to provide Ontario with its fair share of police funding.

     "Ontario is moving forward to build safer communities by putting more

police on our streets, but we can't fight guns and gangs, illegal drugs and

organized crime alone," said Premier McGuinty. "The federal government

committed to putting 2,500 more police officers in communities across Canada -

and it's time they delivered Ontario's fair share."

     Of the 200 new OPP officers funded by the McGuinty government, 53 will go

after illegal guns. In addition, the government is hiring six new prosecutors

to better track, investigate and stem the flow of handguns and other

restricted guns across the province.

     Premier McGuinty also repeated his call today for the federal government

to ban handguns.

     "Organized justice means tackling gun violence from every angle," said

Attorney General Michael Bryant. "These specialized prosecutors will work with

police from day one of an investigation so that we can better monitor and

prevent the movement of these guns and stem the flow of handguns and other

restricted and prohibited firearms across Ontario's borders."

     "By working with federal and U.S. law enforcement agencies and

collaborating with police and specialized prosecutors, Ontario's justice

sector is working to enhance the safety, security and the quality of life for

all Ontarians," said Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services

Monte Kwinter.

     "The new officers the OPP is getting for the Provincial Weapons

Enforcement Unit will help us get illegal hand guns, and those who use them

for criminal activity, off the streets of our communities," said OPP

Commissioner Julian Fantino. "And the additional resources we are receiving

for the Drug Enforcement Section, Asset Forfeiture Unit and Chief Firearms

Office will allow us to dedicate more officers in our provincewide fight

against organized crime."

     The 200 OPP officers announced today are in addition to the 1,000 new

municipal police officers already placed in communities across Ontario.

     Putting more police on the streets is one part of the government's plan

to build strong, safer communities for families. Other measures include:

     -  Introducing a $68-million Guns and Gangs strategy, including a new

        operations centre and several justice initiatives to cut down on crime

     -  Creating a Provincial Advisory Group on Marijuana Grow Operations and

        a Crystal Meth Task Force to combat the illegal drug trade

     -  Launching the $28.5-million Youth Opportunities Strategy to help young

        people, especially those in marginalized and stigmatized communities,

        achieve a brighter future.

     "We're not going to stand by while innocent people lose their lives to

gun violence," said Premier McGuinty. "We have a duty to act, and so does the

federal government, but we simply can't afford to wait any longer for our

federal leaders to move forward on this commitment."