Question Period Note: Human Trafficking

• Human trafficking, also referred to as trafficking in persons, involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of persons for the purpose of exploitation, typically sexual exploitation or forced labour.
• According to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, police-reported incidents on human trafficking in Canada have steadily increased since 2010.

• The Government of Canada is committed to combatting human trafficking in all its forms. This heinous crime has deep and lasting effects on victims’ physical, psychological, emotional, and financial well-being.

• Supported by an ongoing investment of $10.28 million, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking supports anti-human trafficking efforts that prevent, protect, prosecute, develop partnerships, and empower survivors.

• To support our work, our Government is working closely with the newly appointed Chief Advisor to Combat Human Trafficking, Ms. Jennifer Richardson, who will provide ongoing advice and recommendations, and bring greater awareness both domestically and internationally.

• The Government of Canada continues to support a range of programs and initiatives aimed at combating human trafficking, and is now in the process of renewing the National Strategy. Through continued collaboration with stakeholders, including victims, survivors, Indigenous peoples, and community organizations, we will ensure that Canada’s approach remains modern and responsive to the changing environment.

National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking
• In September 2019, the Government launched the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking 2019-2024, supported by an investment of $57.22 million over five years and $10.28 million ongoing. These investments are shared among Public Safety Canada (PS); Women and Gender Equality Canada; Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada; Public Services and Procurement Canada; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; and the Canada Border Services Agency.
• PS activities under the National Strategy include investing in trauma-informed and culturally relevant community-based projects; fostering national and international coordination and cooperation; and delivering a national human trafficking awareness campaign.
• From August 2024 to March 2025, PS conducted a series of targeted engagement sessions with domestic and international stakeholders to inform the renewal of the National Strategy. Over 200 stakeholders took part in the meetings and/or submitted input through an online survey.
• In January 2025, the Government of Canada appointed Jennifer Richardson as Chief Advisor to Combat Human Trafficking. She will provide ongoing advice and recommendations to the on the Government of Canada’s efforts to combat human trafficking and bring awareness both domestically and internationally, as well as advance Calls for Justice with respect to the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
• Complementary to the National Strategy, PS provides $2.5 million per year to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, to operate the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. The Hotline is a multi-lingual, 24/7, toll-free service to connect callers to local services, supports and law enforcement.

An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff
• Formerly, Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff (Supply Chains Act), received Royal Assent on May 11, 2023 and came into force on January 1, 2024. The Supply Chains Act imposes an obligation on certain government institutions and private-sector entities to report by May 31 of each year on the measures taken to prevent and reduce the risk that forced labour or child labour is used by them or in their supply chains.

Import Prohibition on Forced Labour
• Under the Customs Act, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has the authority to select shipments for examination. Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is currently the Government of Canada’s lead department for labour-related programs and the CBSA works closely with ESDC to identify goods that have been produced by forced labour and prevent their entry into Canada. ESDC’s Labour Program is actively monitoring and researching evidence related to problematic supply chains, and documented evidence of goods being produced with forced labour is transmitted for CBSA’s consideration. The CBSA conducts risk analyses on goods entering the country to determine if they are admissible. The CBSA may use this information to identify and intercept shipments containing goods that have been identified as suspected to have been produced by forced labour.
• The CBSA applies the tariff when it has sufficient evidence to do so. Tariff Classification determinations are made on a case-by-case basis for each specific shipment, based on available supporting evidence and analysis. As such, the Customs Tariff can not be used to prohibit the importation of goods solely on the basis of originating from a specific country or region, though it can serve of as a key indicator of risk. Implementing such restrictions would fall under the purview of Global Affairs Canada. Since the import ban has been in place, the CBSA has applied the prohibition but it remains difficult to enforce because of a number of reasons, including a lack of visual signs to indicate whether goods are produced using forced labour; and the limited availability of reliable supply chain information from importers.

If Pressed
Q1- Forced labour/labour trafficking

• The Government takes the protection of foreign workers very seriously and will not tolerate any abuse of workers or their rights.
• The Government has passed legislation targeting the use of forced and child labor in supply chains, requiring certain entities and government institutions to publicly report their efforts to reduce the risk of these practices in their business operations.
• As part of the National Strategy, the Government is taking actions to combat labour trafficking, which complement existing Government programs and policies to protect foreign workers.
• Public Safety Canada also delivers a national public awareness campaign to create awareness of human trafficking for the purpose of sexual exploitation and forced labour.

Q2- Human trafficking in First Nations Communities

• We recognize that Indigenous women and girls continue to be disproportionally targeted by sex traffickers, and that human trafficking and victimization of Indigenous women is significantly under-reported.
• Canada's National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking invests in a number of Indigenous organizations to deliver community-based projects that have been operational between two to five years and that directly serve Indigenous people.
• We will continue working collaboratively with Indigenous partners to ensure communication and awareness efforts address the specific needs of Indigenous peoples.
• This past year, PS has met with many Indigenous organizations to discuss efforts to combat violence against Indigenous communities. The findings from these sessions will help inform the renewal of the National Strategy.

Q3- Former Bill S-211, An Act to enact the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act and to amend the Customs Tariff

• The Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act (Supply Chains Act) came into force on January 1, 2024.
• The Supply Chains Act aims to increase industry awareness and transparency about forced labour and child labour by compelling certain entities and government institutions to publicly report on what they are doing to prevent and reduce these risks.
• By the first reporting deadline (May 31, 2024), Public Safety Canada received approximately 6,000 reports from entities and government institutions which detailed their efforts to address forced labour in their supply chains.
• Public Safety Canada makes these reports publicly available on its website to promote transparency and continues to work with entities and government institutions to improve the quality of reports submitted under the Supply Chains Act.

Q4 – Import Prohibition on Goods Produced by Forced Labour

• Shipments containing goods suspected of being produced by forced labour are detained at the border for inspection by the Canada Border Services Agency. In 2024, 33 shipments were intercepted and assessed by the CBSA.

• Companies must take every step possible to ensure forced labour or child labour is not used in the production of the goods they import.
• We are committed to upholding human rights and international labour standards. The importation into Canada of goods mined, manufactured or produced wholly or in part by forced labour is prohibited.