The Manitoba government launched a $1-million Security Enhancement Fund on Jan. 19, 2026, to help places of worship and cultural organizations protect themselves against hate crimes. Eligible groups can apply for help paying for security cameras, lighting, alarm systems, controlled access and safety training.
“Hate has no place in Manitoba”
Premier Wab Kinew and Justice Minister Matt Wiebe announced the fund as a response to acts of hate, targeted intimidation and vandalism directed at community organizations. The money can support enhanced lighting, alarm systems, security cameras and controlled-access systems, as well as safety training, repairs to property damaged in hate-motivated incidents, and the development of community-driven security plans.
“Hate has no place in Manitoba,” Kinew said. “Acts of hatred and intimidation do more than damage property, they threaten the sense of safety and security every person deserves. When people commit a hate crime, they’re committing a crime against all of us as Manitobans.”
“We’ve created a $1 million security enhancement fund for religious and cultural institutions which are facing the very ugly threat of hate crimes,” Kinew told a news conference on Monday. Wiebe said the province was sending a message to targeted communities. “Antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of hate are on the rise across Canada,” he said. “The announcement today is an important message to communities being targeted by hate crimes that Manitobans stand with them.”
Provincial officials said the launch followed a handful of recent hate-related incidents, against a national backdrop in which reported hate crimes against Jewish and Palestinian communities spiked after the start of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.
Security experts will vet the applications
Rather than simply cutting cheques, Manitoba will set up a dedicated security team to review applications, conduct or oversee security assessments, and recommend where the money will have the greatest impact. The team will be chaired by Dave Dalal, a security professional and former member of the Winnipeg Police Service.
Community reaction was quick. “All Manitobans should be concerned about the serious security threats from rising hate and extremism,” said Gustavo Zentner, vice-president for Manitoba and Saskatchewan at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs. “That’s why we welcome Manitoba’s investment today and stress that more must be done to confront the sources of hate.”
The government says eligibility and application details will be finalized with affected communities in the coming weeks, and organizations can contact the fund directly by email.
A provincial echo of a federal program
Manitoba’s fund follows a model Ottawa has run for nearly two decades. The federal Security Infrastructure Program, launched in 2007, had invested $24.5 million in more than 770 projects by 2024, helping places of worship, schools and community centres install surveillance and access-control systems — including a CCTV and entry system for Winnipeg’s Knox United Church.
Provincial versions like Manitoba’s matter because demand routinely outstrips the federal envelope, and because provinces can move money to local groups faster. For Manitoba congregations weighing the cost of cameras and guards against their operating budgets, the $1 million is modest but, advocates say, a signal that the burden of protection should not fall on targeted communities alone.
