'It won't cut it': Community members skeptical Tory's job plan can curb gun violence

Mayor John Tory says the federal government has "stepped up" to provide immediate helpto fundmore than 100 new summer jobs to curbgun violence in Toronto, but some community members say the initiativebarely scratches the surface of young peoples'needs.

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Tory made the announcement at city hall Monday morningafter meeting with Toronto-area MPs. The jobs areallocated for the northwest area of the city, where $600,000 will be invested toward thenew jobs as part of the federally-funded Summer Work Experience Program.

The federal government, which already funds 6200 summer jobs in the city,had previously announced that they would be doubling the number of overall jobs in the program this year.

Community members skeptical

But a Jamestown pastor says 105 jobs doesn't even begin to address the lack of employment for young people.

"It won't cut it for me. Itwon't cut it at all,"KeatonAustin,a pastor atEtobicoke'sAbundant Life Assembly,told CBC News.

Austin spoke out loudly about gun violence in the city after the shooting death in May ofCandice Rochelle Bob, who was pregnant at the time of the shooting in Rexdale. He is no stranger the struggles young people face in the neighbourhood.

"I think each troubled area, especially where we're standing now in Jamestown, should be about 4000 jobs for this area alone," he said following Monday's announcement.

The need isn't lost on 21-year-old Jonoix Campbell, whodesigns children's programming at the Lawrence Heights Boys and Girls Club.

"If I don't have work, I'll be outside chilling in the neighbourhood and stuff but that's not going to get me far," Campbell said.

"It would just get me in trouble... I don't need none of that stuff near my family."

'We have to turn the page'

On Monday, LiberalMP Adam Vaughan, who represents SpadinaFort York, acknowledgedthe northwest part of the city has suffered from "ahistoric under-investment."

"Wehave to turn the page in this city," Vaughan said. "There are too many young people staring up at hospital ceilings this year."

In addition to the newjobs, Vaughan says the northwest part of needs new community spaces to keep young people engaged.

"I've been tomore funerals for young people in this city than members of my own family," Vaughan said. "The violence must stop, and it takes all of us working together."

Tory will meet with Toronto-area MPs again in a month, and hopes to add representatives from local school boards and the provincial government to the discussion at that time as well.

"Bottom line is we'll be working together now," said Tory following the announcement.

More planning in the works

All of this comes after Tory reached out to the federal and provincial governments last week looking for helpfunding programs that reach out to "alienated and marginalizedyoung people."

In a letter sent to federaland provincial ministers, the mayor asked for a meeting to discuss how the different levels of government can work together to avoid more gun violence.

"Whether it's investing in new technologies, increasing officers at the border, or collaborating with our American counterparts, we have a number of potential options," Tory wrote in his letter last week. "We in Toronto stand ready to do our part and deploy resources as needed."

Tory addedthat preliminary conversations with both governments had been very positive.