John, 

Antisemitism is rising dramatically in Canada, and ensuring the security of Jewish community and religious spaces is vital. CIJA has long advocated for updates to make the Security Infrastructure Program (SIP) a more streamlined program to help protect Jewish Canadians and other vulnerable communities. SIP has provided funding for security infrastructure maintenance and improvements to workplaces, community centres, and places of worship of at-risk communities.

The Jewish community is the most targeted religious group by those committing hate crimes and, therefore, a significant number of SIP applications are submitted by synagogues and Jewish community centres.

Today, Public Safety Canada announced that SIP will be expanded into a new program: the Canada Community Security Program (CCSP).

CIJA has been informed by Public Safety Canada that the government will adding the following to the program:

• $65 million in new funding for CCSP, including $16 million available in 2024. This is in addition to funding already dedicated to SIP in Budget 2024.
• Eligibility for funding has expanded to include office and administrative spaces, cemeteries, and childcare centres.
• Applicants may now apply for retroactive funding for expenses.
• Funding for time-limited third-party licensed security personnel is now eligible.
• Up to 70% of a project’s eligible costs (up to $1.5 million) may be covered, an increase from 50% of the cost under the SIP.
• The maximum level – or stacking limit – of total government assistance (across federal, provincial, territorial, and municipal sources) has been removed, which opens more opportunities for organizations to apply for other sources of funding.
• Application requirements have been changed to reduce administrative barriers.
• Organizations can apply for funding at any time throughout the year through a continuous intake application process.
• A new call for applications will open October 1, 2024.

CIJA has been informed that Jewish organizations that currently have an application under SIP will be contacted by Public Safety to discuss the status of the application and their options to continue under the CCSP.

This announcement was made in conjunction with Heritage Canada’s release of Canada's Action Plan on Combatting Hate. This plan affirms funding dedicated to combatting hate in Budget 2024, released this past spring. These included:

• $32 million and $11 million ongoing to further enhance the Security Infrastructure Program.
• $12.9 million to improve the collection and availability of hate crime data in Canada.
• $28 million for the Federal Victims Strategy to provide support to victims following a hate-motivated crime.
• $1.5 million to develop and deliver specialized training to Crown prosecutors and to raise awareness in the judiciary about the unique dynamics of hate crime.
• $7.3 million with $1.1 million ongoing to support the Special Envoy on Preserving Holocaust Remembrance and Combatting Antisemitism.

CIJA will continue to advocate for additional improvements that will protect the Jewish community, including ensuring equivalent provincial programs work together with the new CCSP.

We encourage synagogues and Jewish community organizations to learn more about the new Canada Community Security Program.

More Information:

• CIJA: Streamline and Improve the SIP program
• The Government of Canada launches Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate
• Backgrounder: Canada’s Action Plan on Combatting Hate
• Statistics Canada: Police-reported crime statistics in Canada, 2022
• Public Safety Canada: Security Infrastructure Program

Contact us at [email protected] with questions or comments.