Despite millions in federal spending aimed at curbing gun and gang violence, Canadians report a significant rise in gang-related crime, with many personally affected by it, according to new research by the Department of Public Safety.“One in five Canadians report they or someone close to them has been affected by gang-related violence,” stated the report Guns And Gangs Awareness Campaign. Additionally, 70% of respondents agreed that Canada has a growing gang violence problem.Blacklock's Reporter says this research follows a $390 million, five-year federal initiative launched in 2023 under the Guns and Gang Violence Action Fund, designed to support community programs and curb gun-related crime. "The Government of Canada has a comprehensive plan that gets guns off our streets," said then-Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino when announcing the funding. "The safety and security of Canadians is our government's top priority."However, the study found widespread dissatisfaction with the federal response. “Perceived performance of the Government of Canada when it comes to introducing measures to address gang-related violence is quite low,” noted the report, with 43% rating the government’s efforts as poor and 27% calling them fair. Only 1% of respondents rated the performance as "excellent."The concern about gang violence is widespread. Half of those surveyed expressed worry that gangs pose a threat to public safety in their communities, with 78% concerned about gang violence outside their immediate area. Among parents and young adults, the rates were even higher, with 24% and 26% respectively reporting personal connections to gang-related incidents.The report also indicated that Canadians are highly supportive of stronger measures to combat gang violence and gun crimes, including tightening border controls to prevent gun smuggling. The Department of Public Safety has admitted that the extent of illegal gun trafficking into Canada remains unknown. “Cross-border smuggling of firearms poses a threat to the safety and security of Canada,” the department said in a briefing note, but acknowledged, “The total number of firearms successfully smuggled into Canada is unknown.”The findings were based on surveys of 2,069 people across the country, commissioned by Public Safety Canada for $96,352.
