What We Heard Report: Stakeholder Survey on the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV) 2023-2024

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Overview

In the summer of 2023, Public Safety Canada (PS) launched the inaugural Annual Stakeholder Survey on the Initiative to Take Action Against Gun and Gang Violence (ITAAGGV). The main goal was to gather feedback from stakeholders about their overall awareness of the Initiative and how useful PS resources are for their respective organization(s). The survey also helped identify gaps in research, inform policy and evaluation work, and support future programming activities.

This What We Heard Report provides an overview of the feedback received from over 90 organizations through the survey. The Report also details how stakeholder feedback has directly informed updates to future versions of the survey and strengthened how the program is evaluated and delivered.

Context and approach

According to Statistics Canada, in 2023, there were 174 gang-related homicides, accounting for 21.9% of all homicides in Canada. The share of these homicides committed by youth nearly doubled from 2022 to 2023—rising from 16% to 31%. In response, Canadians have increasingly looked to the federal government to take stronger action on gun and gang violence (GGV).

From 2018, the Government of Canada will have allocated $840.1 million over 10 years through the ITAAGGV to support three strategic themes:

The ITAAGGV was further complemented by the creation of the Building Safer Communities Fund in 2022, providing an additional investment of $250 million over five years to help municipalities and Indigenous communities deliver prevention and intervention programs.

Stakeholder surveys are a key deliverable as part of PS's role in enhancing federal leadership. These surveys provide valuable insight that helps guide ongoing implementation efforts and shape future programming to address GGV.

PS sought input from organizations involved in gun and gang initiatives across the country. These included a wide range of stakeholders including the following:

Organizations completed an online survey. Respondents were invited to share suggestions with PS on how to best engage with stakeholders under the ITAAGGV and improve resources available to their organization(s).

The survey closed in September 2023. Moving forward, PS plans to distribute the survey annually during the fall/winter period.

What We Heard online responses

The questionnaire included 28 questions, split into the following three sections:

Under demographic information, respondents were asked to identify the type of organization they represent, choosing from seven (7) categories, broken down as follows:

Respondents spanned all provinces and territories (except Newfoundland and Labrador, and Nunavut), with the majority of organizations from Ontario (43), followed by British Columbia (18) and Quebec (13).

Organizations were also asked to identify their main activities. Responses included:

Discussion of key themes

Initiative and funding awareness

The overwhelming majority of respondents (92%) indicated that that they were aware of PS's efforts to reduce GGV through the ITAAGGV. The top three ways in which respondents became aware of the initiative were: professional work networks (28%), participation in other government programs (14%), and media (12%). Respondents were also asked ways in which PS could increase outreach, with just over half of respondents recommending the use of social media (51%). Additional recommendations included the creation of a website dedicated to the ITAAGGV (24%), a PS newsletter (17%), direct through email (5%), and through traditional news outlets (3%).

Research and online resources

Eight out of 10 organizations rated Public Safety's online resources as "useful" or "very useful" in their respective work; however, stakeholders highlighted the need for regularly updated resources and tools that reflect current challenges and regional differences. Respondents provided direction to PS on areas to increase research efforts and provide resources to organizations. These recommendations included the following:

Collaboration and partnerships

There was strong support for multi-sectoral collaboration, with 93% of respondents indicating active partnerships across government levels, law enforcement, NGOs, and Indigenous communities. Table 1 shows the areas in which stakeholders are partnering through their work.

Table 1: Key areas where organizations are partnering to help reduce GGV
Type of organization Percentage of responses
Federal government 53%
Law enforcement 78%
Provincial/territorial government 56%
Community organization 76%
Municipal government 57%
Indigenous government or community 52%
Other (e.g.: probation, corrections, health organizations, businesses) 7%

Stakeholders highlighted the need to increase community engagement to ensure diverse perspectives in program and policy development. There was a notable desire to continue cross-sector partnerships to support prevention, intervention, suppression, and enforcement efforts. To further strengthen collaboration, stakeholders also encouraged PS to investigate successful international models and best practices in crime prevention related to GGV.

Implementing stakeholder feedback

Stakeholder feedback has helped shape PS's policy and program approval processes. Specifically, the data collected in the 2023-2024 survey has strengthened the department's capacity to report on the impacts and results of the ITAAGGV, including through required government-wide reporting.

PS is committed to providing relevant and timely support and resources to organizations that receive funding and work directly with people affected by GGV across Canada. Input from these recipients and the wider stakeholder community has directly informed how PS prioritizes research efforts and communications products related to the ITAAGGV. In response to calls for more engagement and consultation, PS is working to strengthen two-way communication with stakeholders. As part of this effort, PS will continue to improve the Stakeholder Survey to remain responsive to stakeholders' needs and priorities in this complex space.

Improvements requested for the 2024-25 Stakeholder Survey

PS has identified several ways to improve the 2024-2025 Stakeholder Survey for the ITAAGGV. Respondents asked for clearer instructions and questions; therefore, PS will update the survey to make it easier to understand and complete. This will help reduce the time and effort needed from participants. PS also plans to expand its list of organizations invited to take part in the survey. As well, a new section will be added to gather additional perspectives and expertise from stakeholders.

Conclusion

The first Annual Stakeholder Survey on the ITAAGGV highlighted the strengths of existing partnerships and identified areas where PS can improve. Stakeholders noted the need for updated online resources, better outreach through social media, and a strong interest in learning from international best practices. By acting on this feedback, PS aims to strengthen its leadership role and ensure future efforts are responsive, inclusive, and equitable.

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