Religious centres get funds to boost security

Three Toronto religious centres whose communities have been the target of hate crimes have been awarded more than $60,000 in federal funding to help pay for security improvements.

The Toronto Maha Vihara Society, the Gur Mandir Temple and the Buddhist Mission Centre were provided the aid through the federal government's Security Infrastructure Pilot Program.

The program provides funds for security equipment and hardware upgrades to help non-profit groups, educational organizations and places of worship that cater to communities hit by hate crimes.    

For instance, the Toronto Maha Vihara Society, whose main constituency is people of Sinhalese descent, was firebombed twice last year in attacks that some worshippers blamed on supporters of the Tamil Tigers.

Of the $60,657 in funding announced Tuesday, $43,620 goes to the Maha Vihara Society. The two other groups split the rest of the grants. 

The funding will "help improve security so the members of three organizations in Toronto can practise their faith and culture peacefully, and continue to remain engaged in our community, without fear of harm," said Public Works Minister Vic Toews in a release.