Question Period Note: Human Trafficking

Measures taken by the Government to address human trafficking.

• Human trafficking is one of the most heinous crimes imaginable and the Government takes this very seriously.

• In September 2019, the Government of Canada launched a new comprehensive National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking that brings together federal efforts under one strategic framework, and which is supported by an investment of $57.22 million over five years and $10.28 million ongoing.

• These new investments will support a national public awareness campaign; enhance support services for victims and at-risk populations; develop training tools to help key sectors in the identification of victims; and increase capacity to detect and respond to suspected cases.

• To support this work, an interim Special Advisor on Human Trafficking has been appointed to offer ongoing advice and recommendations to the Government and to raise awareness of this issue domestically and internationally.

• This builds on a previous investment to establish the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline, which was launched in May 2019, as well as ongoing work across the Government of Canada to combat human trafficking. Of note, the RCMP, through its Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, leads and supports human trafficking investigations across the country.

If asked about forced labour/labour trafficking:
• The Government takes the protection of foreign workers very seriously and will not tolerate any abuse of worker rights.

• In addition to the Government’s existing programs, such as the temporary foreign workers program, the Government will enhance its efforts to improve ethical behaviours and prevent labour exploitation and human trafficking in federal procurement supply chains.

If asked about Government efforts to protect sex workers:
• The Government is committed to a comprehensive approach to assisting victims of sexual exploitation and protecting Canadians.

• Through the National Crime Prevention Strategy, Public Safety Canada has committed $9.55 million over five years to support community-based organizations to help individuals who wish to exit prostitution. These funds complement criminal law reforms and support a range of social measures to address the causes and consequences of prostitution.

Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons for the purpose of exploitation, typically sexual exploitation or forced labour. Canada ratified the Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children (Trafficking Protocol) and its parent convention, the United Nations’ Convention against Transnational Organized Crime, on May 13, 2002, to prevent trafficking, protect its victims and prosecute the offenders.

Canada’s criminal laws prohibit trafficking in persons for any exploitative purpose, regardless of whether it occurs within Canada or involves bringing persons into Canada. The Criminal Code of Canada contains specific human trafficking offences that are punishable by maximum penalties as high as life imprisonment, with mandatory minimum penalties ranging from one to six years.

Canada has been identified as a source, destination and transit country for victims of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labour. According to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, police-reported incidents on human trafficking in Canada have steadily increased since 2010. The latest Juristat on Trafficking in Persons in Canada indicates that between 2009 and 2016, 95% of human trafficking victims in Canada were female, 72% were women under the age of 25, and 25% were under 18. Individuals at risk of victimization more generally include persons who are socially or economically disadvantaged, such as Indigenous women, LGBTQ2 persons, youth, migrants, new immigrants, teenage runaways and children who are in protection.

Since the expiry of the 2012-2016 National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking, the Government of Canada has continued to take efforts to address this crime, including enhancing funding through Justice Canada’s Victims Fund, increasing protections for temporary foreign workers, and conducting stakeholder engagement. In Fall 2018, PS conducted consultations to inform the way forward on human trafficking through three regional roundtables, a national summit, and an online questionnaire. Participants included victims and survivors, all levels of government, civil society, law enforcement and front-line service providers. PS also held a separate sex worker roundtable in October 2018 to hear their views on the development of a new national strategy.

Following these consultations, Budget 2018 announced $14.51M over five years and $2.89M ongoing to establish a national human trafficking hotline. Operated by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline was launched in May 2019. It is a bilingual, 24/7, toll-free line, referral service and resource Centre that receives calls, emails and texts about potential human trafficking in Canada and refers victims to local law enforcement, shelters and a range of other trauma-informed supports and services.

In September 2019, the Government launched a new National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking that is supported by an investment of $57.22 million over five years and $10.28 million ongoing. The National Strategy builds on the internationally recognized pillars of prevention, protection, prosecution and partnerships, and incorporates a new pillar of “empowerment” to ensure considerable focus is put towards enhancing supports and services to victims affected by this crime. Key PS activities under the Strategy include the development of a national case management standard, public awareness activities, training tools, new contribution funding for support services, and the establishment of an Advisory Committee made up of victims/survivors of human trafficking.

The 2019-20 Supplementary Estimates A include vote appropriations for PS of $128,067 for the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking and $2,696,607 for the Human Trafficking Hotline for a total of $2,824,674.

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