Summary of the Horizontal Evaluation of the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV)

About the Program

Overall crime rates in Canada have been decreasing over the past several decades. Despite this, there has been a marked increase in recent crime trends involving guns and gang violence (GGV). Given the nature of gang violence and the knowledge that organized crime groups are involved in a variety of criminal activities and illegal commodities, interventions must be comprehensive and include activities across the spectrum of prevention, intervention, and enforcement. While provinces and territories (PTs) are responsible for the administration of justice, including policing, in their jurisdictions, there is also a federal role for supporting a multi-faceted coordinated approach to address GGV.

Budget 2018 committed funding over five years to establish the ITAAGGV. This horizontal initiative supports Public Safety Canada (PS) (as the lead agency), the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA), and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) with investments across three themes: Investing in Communities, Enhancing Federal Enforcement Capacity, and Enhancing Federal Leadership.

What We Examined

The purpose of the evaluation was to examine issues of relevance, effectiveness and efficiency, including Gender-Based Analysis Plus (GBA Plus) considerations, with a focus on the immediate and intermediate outcomes as the Initiative is only in the fourth year of implementation. The evaluation covered the period from 2018-19 to 2021-22 and considered data from 2022-23, where available, for a more fulsome assessment of the Initiative.

Engagement Findings

• The ITAAGGV is aligned with federal priorities and the mandates of partner organizations. Increased trends in gun and gang-related crimes in Canada indicate there is a continued need for the Initiative.
• The Gun and Gang Violence Action Fund (GGVAF) funding formula is designed to ensure funds are distributed proportionally to PTs. Gaps in coverage were identified including the ineligibility of the RCMP to access funding through the GGVAF as well as limitations in the coverage of some program objectives and the reach of the GGVAF into rural, remote and Indigenous communities.
• PS input on the distribution of GGVAF funding by PT stakeholders is minimal therefore the program is unable to ensure funds are reaching all areas or populations at-risk of experiencing GGV.
• Overlap and duplications were found between the GGVAF and other related PS programs.
• Despite limitations in the program's reach to populations considered at-risk of encountering GGV, the GGVAF has enabled PT governments to better respond to GGV.
• Despite delays in the implementation of Enhancing Federal Enforcement Capacity activities, there is evidence that the Initiative enhanced the capabilities of both the RCMP and the CBSA to take action against GGV.
• PS was unable to implement key deliverables under the Enhancing Federal Leadership theme, resulting in significant gaps in engagement, information sharing and strategic planning.
• While GBA Plus factors have informed the design of the ITAAGGV, some gaps remain in the delivery, including the levels of support available to Indigenous and smaller communities. More focused data collection and analysis would strengthen ongoing implementation of the ITAAGGV and future policy decisions.
• The administration of the Grants and Contributions programs under the Investing in Communities theme has been well managed. Despite this, the efficiency of the Initiative’s administration was hampered by challenges encountered in utilizing allocated resources; limited governance and oversight; and minimal results reporting and engagement activities to monitor progress of implementation and inform policy decisions.

Recommendations

PS’s Senior Assistant Deputy Minister, Crime Prevention Branch and Assistant Deputy Minister, Emergency Management and Programs Branch, should:

1. Explore opportunities to strengthen the overall coordination and governance of PS GGV related programs to improve synergies and minimize overlap.
2. Review the GGVAF program design to improve:
   • access to funding opportunities for police of jurisdiction as well as communities and populations encountering, or at risk of encountering, GGV; and,
   • collaboration with PT governments to ensure GGVAF funds support all program objectives.
3. Ensure appropriate oversight mechanisms are in place to:
   • clarify processes for amending performance indicators and determining their appropriateness in measuring results;
   • strengthen data collection and information sharing activities among stakeholders; advance the development of a National Strategy to Reduce GGV and stakeholder engagement activities; and,
   • ensure oversight of the Initiative is aligned with the Treasury Board Secretariat requirements for horizontal initiatives.

Date modified:

2023-08-24