Recent shootings prompt Laval to increase police funding by $1.2 million
More shootings in and around Montreal this week are prompting the City of Laval to increase funding for its police force and call on the federal government to tighten up gun control.
“What we are seeing now, six shootings in one week, is simply unacceptable,” said Laval’s deputy mayor, Stéphane Boyer.
After a string a shootings that saw one dead, Laval is beefing up its police budget, giving the force another $1.2 million. Much of it is going to the Equinoxe team that combats organized crime and gangs.
Laval police chief Pierre Brochet said he wants more officers on the beat and a focus on intelligence gathering to prevent more shootings.
“We want to be sure that citizens are seeing more police officers in the street and we want to be able to act directly,” he said.
Laval is following the lead of Montreal, adding more money to specialized units targeting gun trafficking and organized crime.
More of these specialized squads aren’t the answers, said Ted Rutland, a Concordia professor who has studied the Montreal police anti-gun efforts.
“We are missing huge part of equation,” said Rutland, adding that more community services are needed to help tackle issues like poverty and unemployment, to reduce violent crime.
“Various neighbourhoods, like Montreal North and RDP have been demanding an increase in funding to community organizations, to hire street workers who build relationships with youth and adult support figure out what they need to make a good life for themselves,” he said.
But cities remain focused on getting guns off the streets, urging the federal government to impose more controls.
“We believe we need an approach that is globally integrated. We need to tackle issue as whole and not piece by piece, municipality by municipality,” said Boyer.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Minister 'outraged' after AFN national chief's headdress taken from Air Canada cabin
The federal minister of Crown-Indigenous relations is calling on Air Canada to 'make things right' with the national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who said her headdress was removed from an airplane cabin during a flight this week.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.
Canada recognizes housing as a human right. Few provinces have followed suit
As more Canadians find themselves struggling to afford or find housing, the country's smallest province is the only one that can point to legislation recognizing housing as a human right.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.