Montreal anti-radicalization centre gets $500K budget increase

Montreal's anti-radicalization centre is getting a financial boost: a $500,000 increase to its $2 millionbudget.

Montreal Mayor DenisCoderreand Public Security Minister MartinCoiteuxheld a news conference Thursday to make the announcement and re-state the goals of the centre.

"We are creating a Montreal model bysending a message that to achieve results onanti-radicalizationyou have to invest in prevention," Coderre said.

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The anti-radicalization centre, which opened last November, was Coderre's initiative. The centre has 12 employees including researchers, psychologists and others trained to detect and work with people who show signs of extremism.

"If you have family members, colleagues, or friends who seem to have an attitude change, you can call," Coderresaid Thursday.

Coderre andCoiteuxsaid some of the extra funds will go towards an awareness campaigninschools and universities, as well astraining teachers.The money willalso expand efforts to help prison wardens monitor and preventradicalization.

Coderre said that 80 per cent of the funds are allocated on prevention efforts, while20 per cent of the centre's budget is spent onreactive measures.

"Last week, I was at the United Nations and spoke with [UNSecretary-General] BanKi Moon," Coderresaid."I can tell you that we are working with the United Nations to make sure the model of this prevention centre can have a global reach."

Coderresaid the Montreal model has caught theinterestof not only the UN, but mayors around the world as well.

Coiteuxadded thatthe centrewas at the leading edge of Canadian efforts to stamp out radicalizations.

Since Montreal'santi-radicalizationcentre was officially inaugurated four months ago, it's received more than 600 calls. Nine of thosecases were referred to police.