This specialized team, established in 2003, will be expanded to 16 positions over the next year including five new prosecutors as well as support staff. The unit will enhance the targeting of youth and gun cases, stronger links with police, constitutional expertise and greater assistance for regional prosecutors.

Downtown Winnipeg is the first area to be targeted for a new proactive prosecution strategy that works with Winnipeg police and local stakeholders to target street crime and other locally-identified priorities for both aggressive prosecution and co-ordinated prevention strategies.

Nine new Aboriginal police officers will be stationed in northern Manitoba. These resources are in addition to the 54 police officer positions that were announced in Budget 2005 including 23 in Winnipeg and two in Brandon.

Three Public Safety Investigative Unit teams, instead of one, will be in place to enforce the Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Act and the Fortified Buildings Act. The mandate of this successful effort that has closed down over 120 crack and prostitution houses will be expanded this winter with stronger legislation to address a broader range of disruptive activities engaged in by gangs and others.

The award-winning Front End Project will now expand beyond domestic violence cases. This project, led by the chief judge to ensure matters go to trial sooner, will extend to all adults in custody over the next year.

There will be an expansion of capacity within the Headingley Correctional Centre and the Dauphin Correctional Centre and an interdepartmental group is looking at other options to expand capacity.

The Government of Manitoba, in partnership with the federal government’s National Crime Prevention Strategy, will make $1.6 million available. Money is available to community-based non-profit groups and includes projects that focus on gang prevention, sexual exploitation and youth and gun violence among other initiatives.

Greater opportunities for youth will be provided by exceeding the 2003 election commitment of 40 Lighthouses. There will be 50 Lighthouses established during this term with a focus on higher crime communities.

Project Gang Proof will be strengthened and new components added. The views of community organizations and others will be relied on to recommend how this successful initiative can do more to reach out to youth and parents.

The Citizen on Patrol Program (COPP) was formally established in 2001 with a
co-ordinator at Manitoba Public Insurance, equipment, training, support and advisory council. There are 69 groups. Seven new groups are being formed and other communities which are interested can get help to establish a COPP.

A total of $400,000 is being directed at inner-city community-driven initiatives. This includes safety co-ordinators for Winnipeg’s Spence neighbourhood and north end to address break-ins, sexual exploitation, safety audits and safety awareness. Included are projects that join with the National Crime Prevention Centre, a North-End Safety Conference to explore local solutions and the Safer Corridors Initiative to provide child safety to and from six north-end schools, as well as projects for pre-employment, training and other supports.

The internationally-acclaimed Positive Parenting Program, or Triple P, will start in Winnipeg’s north end and expand across Manitoba to provide parenting skills, advice and support through schools, child-care centres, public-health providers, resource centres and other community agencies. Training for community providers will begin in November and Triple P supports will become widely available by the spring. Parents will be able to access tip sheets, one-on-one consultations or group seminars.

Manitoba Labour and Immigration has met with agencies, government and community representatives to examine the extent and impact of gang-related activities within refugee and immigrant communities. Stakeholders will identify more effective prevention and intervention strategies for at-risk immigrants and youth.

The plan will be supplemented by action based on the work by the special counsel to the attorney general on Organized crime announced in August.