Ford Conservatives ignore root causes of gun violence as Toronto marks 80th homicide: NDP

As Toronto marked its 80^th homicide on Monday, NDP Community Safety critic, Kevin Yarde, said that Doug Ford’s focus on cuts and his government’s misplaced priorities have failed to address gun violence in the city.

“Monday marked Toronto’s 80th homicide this year, which now mirrors 2005’s year of the gun,” Yarde said. “This government needs to immediately address gun violence, and the root causes of violence to prevent any more tragedies. Torontonians should be able to live in their city without fear of crime and violence.”

Instead of supporting communities with investments to address the root causes of violence, Yarde said the Ford government is moving backwards, cutting community services that could reduce violent crime and gun violence.

“Cuts to much-needed community services and programs will only take us from bad to worse,” Yarde said. “Report after report have shown us that the key to addressing gun violence is better community supports.

“In light of the line-by-line review we know that cuts are looming with this government, and we still don’t know where the $47 million promised to support the Black Youth Action Plan has gone.”