Public Policy and Advocacy

Crime Prevention Ottawa’s goals include promoting public policy solutions to issues of crime and disorder.  A dedicated committee of the Board of Directors has undertaken a wide range of policy initiatives.

Some highlights of Crime Prevention Ottawa’s public policy and advocacy work include:

  • Encouraging the City to take an active approach to using recreation as a vehicle for crime prevention and social inclusion.  See our policy statement  “Increase City Investment in Accessible Recreation for a Safer, Healthier Ottawa” and our paper “Improving Access to Recreation for Vulnerable Citizens in Ottawa.”

  • Championing crime prevention at the FCM:  building on a resolution from Ottawa’s City Council, the Federation of Canadian Municipalities adopted a resolution supporting investments in prevention.  
     
  • Advocating for a Provincial Crime Prevention Strategy. CPO has been actively corresponding with the provincial government about the possibility of a provincial crime prevention strategy.  The CPO Board of Directors had previously  taken the position that we “call for a Provincial Coordinating Body which would seek to coordinate planning and policy with regards to preventing crime and enhancing community safety across a wide spectrum of provincial ministries.”  
     
  • Seeking a strategic approach to crime prevention through environmental design.  We are organizing a conference in October 2010 and have published a report.  
     
  • Actively engaging with the “ Review of the Roots of Youth Violence”.  See our submission to the study and our response to the report’s release.  
     
  • CPO made a submission to “Growing Stronger Together: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy” in July 2008. 
     
  • Funding for Youth Services.  Crime Prevention Ottawa has been actively advocating for equal funding for youth services from the province.  Our efforts have been successful in that Ottawa is now getting $798,545 per year in new funding under the Youth Opportunities program.  Nevertheless we remain concerned that Ottawa still does not have a Youth Challenge fund as Toronto does.
  • Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods Legislation:  Crime Prevention Ottawa has been advocating for Safer Communities and Neighbourhoods legislation in Ontario to help deal with the significant public disorder and neighbourhood deterioration caused by crack houses and other problem properties.  Yasir Naqvi,  Member of the Provincial Legislature,  introduced  SCAN legislation as a private members bill, it has passed through second reading and committee and needs only third reading to become law.  SCAN already has many supporters, listed below, please help us add to this list! 
    • Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO)  
    • Boys and Girls Club of Ottawa  
    • City of Ottawa 
    • City of Hamilton 
    • Ottawa Police Service 
    • Ottawa Police Services Board 
    • Ottawa Neighbourhood Watch Executive Committee 
    • Concerned Citizens for Safer Neighbourhoods 
    • Federation of Urban Neighbourhoods of Ontario (Inc.) 
    •  Eastern Ontario Landlord Organization 
    • Friends and Tenants of Ottawa Community Housing 
    • Hintonburg Community Association 
    • Somerset Street Chinatown BIA 
    • Dalhousie Community Association  
       Background information about SCAN.