For Immediate Release
March 12, 2008
John Baird and Pierre Poilievre Deliver for Jewish Federation of Ottawa
(OTTAWA) – John Baird, Member of Parliament for Ottawa West-Nepean was joined by Pierre Poilievre, Member of Parliament for Nepean-Carleton today at the Jewish Federation of Ottawa to hand-deliver a $74,100 cheque to assist in improving security infrastructure for community organizations. Nine Jewish organizations across Canada received $216,000 in funding, part of the Department of Public Safety’s $3 million Communities at Risk: Security Infrastructure Pilot (SIP) Program. Of the nine organizations, the Jewish Federation of Ottawa received the largest amount of funding.
“This is a great step towards ensuring that communities at risk are able to provide safe and welcoming environments for their members,” said Mr. Baird. “We are fortunate to enjoy the peace and safety that Canada has to offer but occasionally there are attacks on our freedoms. This project will help ensure a greater sense of security to ethnic and religious communities.”
Pierre Poilievre echoed Mr. Baird statements, “This funding demonstrates the Government’s commitment to preserving the values and freedoms of all Canadians. Our Government has heard the concerns of community organizations like the Jewish Federation of Ottawa and is stepping up to address those concerns with real dollars.”
The Jewish Federation of Ottawa is the central funding, planning and coordination body of services for approximately 14,000 members of the Jewish Community living in Ottawa. Their work supports a network of social and humanitarian agencies in Ottawa, Israel and communities around the world.
The SIP program is a two-year program pilot program intended to help defray the costs of security infrastructure enhancements. Funding is still available and another intake of applications I set for April 15, 2008.
Eligible organizations include not-for-profit community centres, provincially recognized educational institutions, and places of worship that are clearly linked to a community with a demonstrated history of being victimized by hate-motivated crime.
Photo: John Baird, MP (Ottawa West-Nepean) and Pierre Poilievre, MP (Nepean-Carleton) hand a cheque to members of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa. The Jewish Federation received $74,100 to improve security infrastructure, the most of any organization in Canada.
(L-R) Mitchell Bellman, President and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa (JFO), Rabbi Bulka, John Baird, MP (Ottawa West-Nepean) and Pierre Poilievre, MP (Nepean-Carleton) and Jonathan Freedman, Chair of the JFO Board.
Further information:
Office of John Baird, MP
Ottawa West-Nepean
613-996-0984
Office of Pierre Poilievre, MP
Nepean-Carleton
613-992-2772
