(Queen's Park) – Simcoe North MPP Garfield Dunlop today announced Ernie Eves government funding of $24,359.66 from the Ministry of Public Safety and Security for three policing programs in Orillia and Rama.

The City of Orillia received $12,958.79 under the Community Policing Partnerships (CPP) program that enables all municipalities - including Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) contract municipalities and First Nations police services - to hire more police officers.

In addition, the Orillia Police Services Board and the Mnjikaning Police Services Board respectively received RIDE (Reduce Impaired Driving Everywhere) grants of $6,823.49 and $4,577.38. Since 1995, this government has provided $1.2 million in RIDE grants each year to enhance the enforcement capability of police services against drinking-and-driving.

"Community safety has always been a priority for me and for our government," said Dunlop. "Programs like CPP and RIDE give municipalities and local police the resources they need to help keep our communities safe and secure."

Initially a five-year program beginning in September 1998, CPP would hire up to 1,000 new front-line police officers across Ontario. The 1,000th CPP officer was allocated in November 2000, completing the government"s commitment. In the May 2000 budget, CPP was made into a permanent program, with funding allocated each year.

In May 2003, Premier Eves announced that CPP will be further expanded to hire an additional 1,000 police officers across the province over the next five years, including a minimum of 300 new OPP officers. The remaining new officers will be distributed to community police services.

The funding announced today is in addition to the $15,460 cheque presented by Dunlop last month to the Orillia Police Services Board under the Youth Crime and Violence Initiative (YCVI) grant program.

Contacts:
Garfield Dunlop
(705) 327-4500 (cell)

Julie Kwiecinski
(416) 325-6176