Safer, Healthier Communities

Canadians rightfully expect and deserve to feel safe in their communities. However, with a rise in gun violence, restrictive anti-choice groups, and targeted hate crimes, the fabric that ties our communities together is being threatened. As our country grows, we must take action to build a future where communities welcome diversity as our strength, where women's rights are protected, and where every Canadian feels safe in the place they call home. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement is taking action to make our communities safer, vibrant, and more inclusive.

• Taking assault weapons off our streets, with an investment of $597.9 million over three years, to remove prohibited firearms from communities and compensate assault-style firearms owners. To support Ukraine's fight for its democracy and sovereignty, the government is committed to work with the Government of Ukraine to identify how prohibited assault-style firearms could be donated.
• Cracking down on auto theft, by proposing to introduce legislative amendments to grant the Canada Border Services Agency new authorities to inspect goods destined for export. This will include obligating warehouse operators and shippers to provide accommodations for officers to carry out their mandate.
• Protecting women's reproductive health, by providing $90 million over six years, with $20 million ongoing, to expand and make permanent the Sexual and Reproductive Health Fund, and $7.5 million over four years to run new surveys about sexual and reproductive health and rights.
• Supporting women's organizations, by providing $15 million over three years to the Women's Program, to help advance projects focused on ending gender-based violence and to help more women and girls to live safe, healthy, and prosperous lives.
• Investing in community security infrastructure, to ensure that all Canadians have the freedom to live and practice their religion in safety. Thanks to funding provided in Budget 2024, the Canada Community Security Program is now open. It will help protect Canadians from violence, threats and hate, and support communities with security measures to help keep them safe.
• Establishing Canada's Black Justice Strategy, to help protect Black communities from prejudice, discrimination, and hatred. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to provide $77.9 million over two years to reduce the injustices faced by Black Canadians.
• Strengthening the Black Entrepreneurship Program, to help Black entrepreneurs and small business owners who face systemic barriers that limit their access to the capital needed to grow their businesses. The 2024 Fall Economic Statement proposes to provide $189 million over five years to help Black entrepreneurs and business owners thrive.
• Supporting Black community organizations, by investing $36 million for the Supporting Black Canadian Communities Initiative, which empowers Black-led, Black-serving, and Black-focused community organizations to promote inclusiveness and address systemic racism.