Once the advisory committee has been established and there is local buy-in, municipalities should begin engaging in community consultations and collecting multi-sectoral data to identify local priority risks. For more information on the CSWB planning process, please refer to the Community Safety and Well- Being Planning Framework: A Shared Commitment in Ontario booklet.
27) What happens if a municipality does not develop a CSWB plan?
Where a municipality intentionally and repeatedly fails to comply with its CSWB obligations under the legislation, the Solicitor General (formerly known as the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services) may appoint a CSWB planner at the expense of the municipality. The appointed planner has the right to exercise any powers of the municipal council that are required to prepare a CSWB plan that the municipality must adopt.
This measure will help ensure that local priorities are identified so that municipalities can begin addressing risks and create long-term positive changes in the community.
28) What if municipalities don’t have the resources to undertake this exercise?
Where capacity and resources are limited, municipalities have the discretion and flexibility to create joint plans with other municipalities and First Nation band councils. By leveraging the assets and strengths across neighbouring municipalities/First Nations communities, municipalities can ensure the most effective CSWB plan is developed to meet the needs of the area.
CSWB planning is not about reinventing the wheel – but rather recognizing the work already being made within individual agencies and organizations and build from their progress. Specifically, CSWB planning is about utilizing existing resources in a more innovative, effective and efficient way. Municipalities are encouraged to use collaboration to do more with existing resources, experience and expertise. The Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Framework: A Shared Commitment in Ontario booklet provides a resource on asset mapping to help communities identify existing strengths and resources that could be leverage during the planning process.
The ministry also offers several different resources to support the CSWB planning process, including the Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Framework: A Shared Commitment in Ontario booklet and other resources (please refer to question #29 for more information).
In addition, there are funding opportunities available that could be leveraged to support the development and implementation of local CSWB plans (refer to question #31 for more information). For example, the ministry offers a number of different grant programs that are mostly available to police services to support crime prevention and CSWB initiatives. Please visit the ministry’s website for additional information on available grant programs: http://www.mcscs.jus.gov.on.ca/english/Policing/ProgramDevelopment/PSDGrantsandInitiatives.html
Funding programs are also offered by the federal government’s Public Safety department. For more information on their programs and eligibility, please visit https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/crm-prvntn/fndng-prgrms/index-en.aspx.