Nearly $52,000 in provincial funding will upgrade local video surveillance to fight guns, gangs, and trafficking

KENORA – NEWS – In a move aimed at curbing gun and gang violence in Northwestern Ontario, the Ontario government is investing $51,850 to expand and modernize video surveillance capabilities for the Kenora detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

The funding comes through the Ontario Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) Grant Program and is designed to assist police services in upgrading outdated equipment, expanding existing infrastructure, and installing new CCTV cameras in areas with high levels of crime, including drug and human trafficking.

Boosting Safety Across the Northwest

The announcement was made Thursday by Kenora–Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford, who emphasized the government’s commitment to making communities across the Northwest safer.

“This investment of nearly $52,000 in Kenora OPP’s CCTV infrastructure builds on work we’ve done in Dryden, Sioux Lookout, and with the Treaty 3 Police Service,” said Rickford. “It’s about giving frontline police the tools they need to fight organized crime, drug trafficking, and keep our families safe.”

Part of Ontario’s Guns and Gangs Strategy

The CCTV Grant Program, launched in 2020, is a key component of Ontario’s Guns, Gangs and Violence Reduction Strategy, an initiative focused on disrupting organized criminal networks and reducing violent crime across the province.

Solicitor General Michael Kerzner noted that supporting police with technology is central to this strategy.

“CCTV systems are critical for deterring and investigating serious crimes,” said Kerzner. “This funding is about giving police services the tools they need to protect their communities and reduce the impact of gun and gang violence.”

Kenora One of 14 Funded Projects in 2024-25

Kenora’s CCTV project is one of 14 across Ontario receiving support this year, with a total provincial investment of $2 million in 2024–2025. The program offers to cover up to 50 per cent of project costs, to a maximum of $300,000 per project.

Previous Funding in Northwestern Ontario

This latest investment follows previous CCTV grant support in the region:

• Treaty Three Police Service – $55,000 (2023–24)

• Dryden OPP – $70,000 (2022–23)

• Sioux Lookout Police Services Board – $48,000 (2022–23)

These grants are part of an expanding effort to leverage technology in policing and ensure communities in the North receive equitable support in the province’s fight against organized crime.