PORTAGE LA PRAIRIE—The Manitoba government will continue to support policing services for First Nation communities with an additional investment of $2.6 million over the next three years for the First Nations Policing Program (FNPP), Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced here today.

“The Manitoba government is committed to enhancing policing and public safety for all Manitobans, and this investment supports our commitment by providing culturally relevant policing for Indigenous communities,” said Cullen. “We are pleased to announce this ongoing expanded funding, which will ensure the FNPP can continue to provide responsive, professional policing in the communities they serve.”

The minister noted the FNPP’s budget increases by 2.75 per cent annually to support growing community needs and Manitoba’s support for the program will increase by $2.6 million over the next three years to maintain its share of costs and make some necessary expansions.

In all, Manitoba’s total investment in First Nations policing will increase to more than $15 million annually by 2022-23 and will support the addition of four new police officers, the minister said.

Public Safety Canada provides funding to support policing services to First Nation and Inuit communities through the FNPP. These services are supported through agreements with provincial or territorial governments and First Nation or Inuit communities. Federal and provincial/territorial governments each contribute funding. Manitoba is responsible for 48 per cent of the costs of the program, which supports policing services in First Nation communities, such as the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, First Nation Safety Officers and First Nations Community Police Services.

The province is also providing more than $44,000 through the Criminal Property Forfeiture Fund for the Manitoba First Nations Police Service, which will be used to purchase three in-car camera systems and upgrading duty pistols with lighting attachments and holsters.

“This support will help keep our officers safer through the purchase of new advanced and state-of-the-art equipment, and enable us to secure four new officers who will be working toward combatting the increase of illegal drugs, guns and gangs in communities,” said Acting Chief Bruno Rossi, Manitoba First Nations Police. “We thank our funding partners for their continued support and our communities in supporting First Nations policing.”

In Manitoba, cash and proceeds from the sale of forfeited property are deposited into the Criminal Property Forfeiture (CPF) Fund, which is used to:
• compensate victims of the unlawful activity that led to the forfeiture of the property;
• provide funding to the Victims’ Assistance Fund;
• promote safer communities by investing in specialized equipment/training for law enforcement agencies; and
• promote safer communities by providing funding to law enforcement agencies for community initiatives.

The province also maintains the Federal Proceeds of Crime (FPOC) fund, which is generated from forfeited proceeds of crime through the prosecution of federal offences in Manitoba. The monies received from Canada are then reallocated to activities related to crime prevention including victim services, law enforcement and community initiatives such as drug prevention education.

Since 2011, more than $16 million has been distributed to law enforcement agencies and community initiatives through the CPF fund, which includes the FPOC fund and Victims’ Assistance funds.

For more information about criminal property forfeiture, visit: www.gov.mb.ca/justice/commsafe/cpf/index.html.