Wiebe gives update on $1M security fund

WINNIPEG — A $1-million security enhancement fund for places of worship and cultural centres announced in January has been fully allocated, but the funds have not yet flowed, Justice Minister Matt Wiebe said this week.

“It’s really about just ensuring that the right resources are going to the areas where we’re going to have the biggest impact to keep people safe,” Wiebe said in an interview.

The province announced the fund to support Manitoba communities facing acts of hate, targeted intimidation and vandalism by helping community organizations strengthen safety measures, improve preparedness and install security infrastructure to meet specific needs.

It followed a series of hate-motivated attacks targeting Jewish and Muslim communities.

On Jan. 2, Winnipeg’s Shaarey Zedek Synagogue was targeted with swastikas and the word “hate” spray painted on the synagogue.

Later that month, a swastika was painted on the Abu Bakr Al-Siddique mosque and community centre in the West End.

The province announced the $1-million security fund and recruited retired Winnipeg Police Service superintendent Dave Dalal to work with synagogues and mosques to conduct security assessments. Dalal has been involved with several public safety initiatives, including a review of a public housing apartment block at 145 Powers St. in the North End after the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority stopped providing home-care services to residents because of concerns about ongoing violent crimes, drug use and possible gang activity.

“Dave’s expertise and knowledge about developing safety and security plans alongside community is second to none,” Wiebe said. “I’m really encouraged that he’s been doing this work alongside the community and ensuring that he’s offering his expertise. That is, I think, a big part of the success that we expect from this fund.”

The money hasn’t yet “flowed” because security and safety plans are still being reviewed, Wiebe said.

Plans could include lighting, alarm systems, security cameras and safety training for community members, he said. Where there have been hate-motivated incidents, the reviews are looking at whether the fund could be used for restoring property damage.

“(The funds) haven’t been distributed to community, but the work is ongoing,” said Wiebe.

The security fund team reviewed applications, assessed security plans and made recommendations to ensure that funding goes to measures that will have the greatest impact on community safety, he said.

“I can’t say exactly where the money is going,” he said, pointing to The Pas-Kameesak byelection July 21 and Election Financing Act guidelines that prevent the government from making funding announcements during the byelection campaign period.

“What I can say is that we’re working very much in lockstep with the Jewish community, with the Muslim community and other faith communities to ensure that the money is being distributed broadly and that it’s going to those communities that have been vulnerable or have been feeling unsafe.”

Jewish and Muslim community leaders said they’re grateful for the help.

“We’re going to start a number of projects to keep our community safer,” Jeff Lieberman, Jewish Federation of Winnipeg president and CEO, said Thursday. The community knows how much money it is receiving but isn’t allowed to say ahead of the province announcing it, he said.

The federation hired its own security director late last year to work with Jewish organizations and assess building safety infrastructure — including needed upgrades to security systems, cameras, bollards and doors, Lieberman said. The federation is also accessing a federal government security grant and raising funds to better protect community members following a rise in antisemitism.

“The cost of security is very expensive but we feel, like other Jewish communities across North America, that we need to be able to protect our communities as much as we can,” he said. “It will be a really good start for us to purchase and install a variety of types of security infrastructure.”

The president of the Manitoba Islamic Association said the Muslim community appreciates the financial support and security expertise.

“The world is changing,” Hakim Ghulam said Thursday at the Grand Mosque on Waverley Street. “We have a big property and thousands of people are visiting every single day.”

Hundreds of children are there for school, daycare and community programs offered by the charitable organization, he said.

“There’s a lot of security threats,” he said. “We still have to do a lot to mitigate the risk.”

They, too, are looking to access federal grant money to help bolster security and provide volunteers with security training.

“We have very limited resources,” he said. “People who come to worship places are not trained to handle situations if something happened.”

Ghulam called on all Manitobans to look out for each other.

“We all have to join our hands together and make a shield that protects our community, and nobody can bring division in this beautiful, friendly Manitoba.”

» Winnipeg Free Press