TORONTO -- Provincial funding for a Toronto police anti-violence initiative was made permanent Monday, as Ontario's premier announced millions for such programs in the wake of deadly mass shootings.
Following a meeting with Toronto Mayor Rob Ford and the city's police chief, Premier Dalton McGuinty said the province will direct $12.5 million to initiatives aimed at preventing more violence. He said the money will come from existing sources in the budget.
Funding for the Toronto Anti-Violence Intervention Strategy, which has run for the last six years, will continue after initially being set to run out next year, McGuinty announced.
He also said more funding would go toward better integrating Toronto-area police forces and the provincial police and fast-tracking money for a safer communities program.
"Ii believe Ontario families have the right to feel safe and to be safe in all our communities, and I believe we all have a responsibility to make that happen," McGuinty said.
"It's a very complicated problem and there's no one, magic solution. Any effective response will consist of a variety of different initiatives."
Ford called the funding a "huge victory" for Toronto taxpayers.
Before the meeting Ford had said he was going to ask for between $5 million and $10 million for more police officers to fight gun violence in Toronto.
TAVIS, which costs about $5 million a year, combines rapid-response anti-violence measures with community engagement in an effort to reduce crime and gang violence.
Toronto Police Chief Bill Blair said the program is a proven success.
"I think it has been demonstrated that utilizing the TAVIS resources can make a difference in our communities," Blair said, pointing to dropping crime rates.
"We are going to make sure that we use the (TAVIS) officers we have to the best possible effect."
Ontario's Attorney General John Gerretsen, Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services Madeleine Meilleur and Minister of Children and Youth Services Eric Hoskins also attended the meeting.
The summit was called following last week's mass shooting at a community barbecue in east Toronto that left two dead and 23 wounded.
Two men died after a gunman opened fire June 2 in the food court of the Toronto Eaton Centre, one of Toronto's most popular shopping destinations.
Ford is to meet Tuesday with Prime Minister Stephen Harper to discuss federal anti-crime initiatives.
A spokesman for the prime minister said Harper had already planned to be in Toronto, so he added a meeting with Ford to his schedule after the mayor requested one.
