Question Period Note: Human Trafficking

How is the Government of Canada working to protect those who are at risk of human trafficking?

• The Government of Canada is committed to preventing and addressing all forms of gender-based violence, including human trafficking.

• The National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, led by Public Safety, brings together federal efforts under one strategic framework and is supported by an investment of $57.22M over five years and $10.28M ongoing.

• In December 2020, the Government of Canada announced $22.4M over four years to provide support to 63 organizations to implement projects designed to prevent and address human trafficking and support at-risk populations, victims, and survivors.
o Of this investment, WAGE is funding 41 projects, for a total of nearly $14M.

• Budget 2021 committed $105M over five years for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, including increased funding for initiatives to stop human trafficking and support for at-risk populations and victims and survivors.

Investment

• Through the Public Safety Canada-led National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, WAGE received $10M over 5 years, and $2M per year ongoing for the Human Trafficking Initiative. An additional almost $4M in existing program funding was leveraged, bringing the total funding to nearly $14M. The initiative provides funding to eligible organizations to develop, deliver and test:
o Innovative prevention programs for at-risk populations, including women and girls, Indigenous women and girls, Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex and additional sexually and gender diverse people (2SLGBTQI+), children and youth; and
o Short-term continuum of care interventions to support victims and survivors while they transition out of human trafficking, reintegrate into their communities, and begin their healing and recovery process.

• Following a July 2020 call for proposals, on December 15, 2020, the Government of Canada announced $22.4M over four years to provide support to 63 organizations to implement projects designed to prevent and address human trafficking and support at-risk populations, victims and survivors. Of this investment, WAGE is funding 41 projects, for a total of nearly $14M (with additional funds leveraged from the Women’s Program). Public Safety is funding the rest.

• Budget 2021 included $105M over five years for WAGE to enhance its Gender-Based Violence Program, with funding going to initiatives that engage men and boys, and to increase funding for initiatives to stop human trafficking, including support for at-risk populations and victims and survivors. It will also provide support for testing and implementing best practices to address gender-based violence, with a focus on projects that could be scaled at the national level.

• Public Safety Canada provides ongoing funding to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking to administer the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline. The Hotline is a national, multilingual (200 languages, including 27 Indigenous languages), 24/7/365 service and offers referrals to supports and services to victims and survivors.

• As part of its National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, the Government of Canada also implemented an enhanced international engagement approach to better leverage multilateral and bilateral partnerships in addressing this crime.

Results

• It is too early to report on results for the Human Trafficking Initiative. Results are being tracked by Public Safety Canada as the lead federal organization.

Project examples

• Examples of projects funded by WAGE include:
o The Women’s Centre for Social Justice is receiving up to $552,500 for a 37-month project to develop and implement promising intervention practices to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk populations and survivors of human trafficking in Ontario, Alberta, Yukon, British Columbia and Québec.
o Sudbury Women’s Centre will receive up to $399,088 for a 37-month project that will develop and implement promising practices through the establishment of the Saving Our Sisters (SOS) Alliance Human Trafficking Intervention Initiative to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for underserved at-risk population and survivors of human trafficking in Northern Ontario.
o The CALACS Maison ISA will receive up to $371,880 for a 33-month project that will develop and implement specialized, innovative and territory-specific intervention practices that will advance knowledge and improve support to empower women victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation in Quebec.
o Native Courtworker and Counselling Association of British Columbia will receive up to $315,768 for a 37-month project that will develop and implement Indigenous-led, community-based, culturally-rooted anti-human trafficking approaches, practices and materials to advance knowledge and enhance empowerment supports for at-risk Indigenous populations and survivors of human trafficking throughout British Columbia.

BACKGROUND:

• Human trafficking is a gendered crime that disproportionately impacts women and girls, including Indigenous women and girls, 2SLGBTQI+ people, as well as their families and communities.

• In September 2019, the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking was launched by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, with investments of $57.22M over five years and $10.28M per year ongoing. The National Strategy includes a number of new and expanded initiatives by Public Safety; the Canadian Border Service Agency; WAGE; Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada; Public Services and Procurement Canada; and the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada. It aims to:
o Empower victims and survivors to regain self-confidence and control over their lives;
o Prevent more of these crimes from taking place;
o Better protect those who are most at-risk of being trafficked;
o Prosecute human traffickers for their heinous crimes; and
o Embrace partnerships with provinces and territories and other organizations to maximize impact.

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