The Manitoba government has announced that it is investing more than $138,000 from the proceeds of crime toward projects that improve community safety in Steinbach and southern Manitoba.
“The Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund redirects the proceeds of crime to projects that protect Manitoba families and enhance public safety in communities here in southern Manitoba and across the province,” said Justice Minister Matt Wiebe. “The province is pleased to provide funding to several initiatives identified by valued agencies that work to keep communities safe.”
The Criminal Property Forfeiture (CPF) Fund distributes proceeds from the sale of seized criminal property to organizations in the province focused on community safety. The following organizations have been selected to receive one-time grants:
- Winkler Police Service – $99,000 for a regional policing model study in Winkler and Morden and $22,165 for medical equipment to start a licensed police emergency medical support unit;
- Manitoba Association of Chiefs of Police (MACP) on behalf of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) – $15,000 to hold a violence threat risk-assessment training session in Steinbach for RCMP officers, Hanover School Division staff and other community partners; and
- MACP on behalf of Steinbach RCMP – $2,500 for the Headway START program to assist vulnerable at-risk youth and their families.
“We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to the Manitoba government for the generous support through the Criminal Property Forfeiture program,” said Ryan Hunt, chief of the Winkler Police Service. “This funding will allow us to establish a specialized medical support unit, significantly enhancing our ability to respond to critical incidents and improving our service to the community.”
