May 9th Weekly Update

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Dear Constituents, 
Our government continues to invest in safer communities and a stronger economy. This edition of the Weekly Update contains details about how we are:
  • Fighting auto theft by helping police identify and dismantle organized crime networks
  • Promoting safer communities through the new Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant
  • Expanding vaccine production in Ontario through a new multi-million investment from Moderna 

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Ontario Cracking Down on Auto Theft

The Ontario government is fighting auto theft by investing $51 million in new measures to help police identify and dismantle organized crime networks and put thieves behind bars. The funding will support first-of-its kind auto theft prosecution teams to investigate and prosecute criminal organizations that profit from stolen vehicles.

“With vehicle thefts and car jackings on the rise, our government is taking bold action against a serious and often violent crime where high-tech criminals operate in tightly organized networks,” said Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. “These measures are aimed at taking crime organizations apart and bringing these criminals to justice.”

The investment will be delivered over three years and includes:

  • The creation of an Organized Crime Towing and Auto Theft Team led by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP)
  • A new community safety grant that targets auto theft
  • Creation of a new Major Auto Theft Prosecution Response Team

To help stop the illegal export of stolen vehicles and target violent crime linked to criminal organizations, the Ontario government is also investing $1.4 million over three years in the Greater Toronto Area-Greater Golden Horseshoe Investigative Fund. This funding will continue to provide eligible police services with the resources they need, including cutting-edge technology.

Additionally, as part of the Guns and Gangs Violence Reduction Strategy, Ontario will continue to target organized crime that fuels gang operations, such as vehicle theft rings, through a further $13.4 million investment this year. Funding will support a guns and gangs joint forces operation led by the OPP to increase intelligence sharing and enforcement across multiple jurisdictions, as well as a provincial guns and gangs support unit to assist with investigations and prosecutions.

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Ontario Strengthening Supports to Combat Hate and Create Safer Communities

The Ontario government is investing $25.5 million over two years to help address the rise of hate incidents against religious and minority groups. The new Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant will help faith-based and cultural organizations enhance or implement measures to ensure community spaces remain safe and secure.

“No Ontarian should live in fear that they will be targeted because of their background, who they love, or how they worship,” said Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism. “Building on our other investments to combat hate, the new Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant will help build stronger, safer and more inclusive communities and ensure everyone has a safe environment to practice their faith and express their culture and beliefs.”

The grant will provide up to $10,000 to help religious groups, Indigenous communities and cultural communities better protect and secure their facilities from hate-motivated incidents, graffiti, vandalism or other damage. Grant funding can be used for things such as building upgrades, enhancing locks, installing cameras, training staff, completing security assessments, introducing safer cybersecurity measures, hiring short-term professional security personnel and making repairs.

Eligible organizations include:

  • Religious and spiritual communities (e.g., mosques, synagogues, temples, churches, etc.)
  • First Nations, Inuit, Métis, and urban Indigenous organizations
  • Cultural groups (e.g., 2SLGBTQQIA+ groups, Black, Asian and other diverse organizations offering programs, workshops and ceremonies that promote their communities’ cultures)

Applications for the Anti-Hate Security and Prevention Grant will open in summer 2023.

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Ontario Welcomes Major Investment to Manufacture More Vaccines

The Ontario government has secured a multi-million-dollar investment from Moderna Inc. to expand vaccine manufacturing and provide Ontarians with faster, more reliable access to life-saving vaccines. The Ontario government is supporting the project with a $4 million investment through the Ontario Together Fund.

Moderna is partnering with Novocol Pharma to add new manufacturing capabilities in their Cambridge facility that will complete the final steps of preparing and packaging respiratory mRNA vaccines for distribution in Ontario and throughout Canada. The partnership will create highly skilled jobs for workers in Cambridge and the surrounding region and help the province become more self-sufficient in case of future health emergencies.

“Through the Ontario Together Fund, we continue to grow our life sciences sector and help Ontario businesses innovate and bring their ideas to market,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Our government is proud to partner with companies like Moderna and Novocol Pharma as they help make Ontario home to the next generation of medical technology solutions. Expanding our biomanufacturing capacity will help ensure we have a strong medical supply chain today and in the future.”

“By building homegrown capacity to produce life-saving vaccines, Ontario will no longer need to rely on other countries to keep our communities safe,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “This partnership between Moderna and Novocol Pharma will create good paying jobs for the Cambridge community and help shore up our domestic production of vaccines to ensure faster access in the event of a future public health challenge.”

Ontario continues to attract investments and jobs from companies around the world. Over the past two and half years, life sciences companies and global biomanufacturers have invested over $3 billion in investments in Ontario.

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My constituency office is open Monday to Friday from 10AM to 4PM.
If you have any questions or concerns we’re readily available to assist you. 
You can also reach us by phone at (416) 781-2395
or by email at robin.martin@pc.ola.org.

 

Warmest Wishes, 
Robin Martin, MPP
Eglinton-Lawrence

For the most up-to-date COVID-19 information from the Government of Ontario visit ontario.ca/coronavirus

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