ARCHIVED - Speaking notes for the Honourable Vic Toews to launch the National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking

Ottawa, Ontario
June 6, 2012

Check against delivery

Thank you all for coming today for this important announcement.

I'm very pleased to be here with my colleague, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services and Minister for Status of Women; as well as RCMP Assistant Commissioner Todd Shean, Federal and International Operations.

I'd also like to recognize Tara Teng, Miss Canada World, who is here with us today.

Tara will offer some comments shortly, but I would like to thank her for being here to mark this very important announcement.

I'd like to thank those of you here who are working so hard to prevent and combat the illegal activity of human trafficking in Canada and abroad and to those who have been working to raise awareness of this truly despicable crime.

I have spoken many times to Canadians about the crime of migrant smuggling, and I want to make it clear that migrant smuggling and human trafficking are not the same thing.

Migrant smuggling involves the illegal movement of people across international borders – with their consent – in exchange for payment.

More often than not, smuggled people are set free when they arrive at their destination.

Human trafficking is a different crime that involves recruiting, transporting or harbouring people for the purpose of exploiting them — typically in the sex trade or as forced labour. Human trafficking is modern-day slavery.

It is heart-wrenching to hear stories of the degradation and suffering experienced by victims who are often physically and emotionally abused, robbed of their dignity and human rights.

It has been alarming to see a growing number of cases where the victims are also tragically Canadian young women and teenage girls.

Human trafficking is a lucrative criminal activity that generates billions of dollars annually for syndicated criminal organizations, and affects virtually every country, including Canada.

The Criminal Intelligence Service Canada estimates that a single Canadian victim of sex trafficking is worth approximately $280,000 per year to her exploiter.

The same report noted “Across the country, organized crime networks are actively trafficking Canadian-born women and under-age girls inter and intra-provincially, and in some instances to the United States, destined for the sex trade.”

We know that human trafficking is taking place here in Canada — with most victims being women and children, who are sexually exploited by their traffickers.

Right here in the National Capital Region, we recently saw the case of Laura Emerson of Gatineau, who pleaded guilty to human trafficking charges relating to abducting and forcing three teenage girls into prostitution. 

That is why our Government has made a strong commitment to our national partners, our global allies and indeed to all Canadians that we will take a firm stand against this terrible crime.

And we have delivered on that commitment in a number of ways.

For example, our Government introduced measures to provide temporary resident permits for foreign victims of human trafficking that were subsequently increased to 180 days, up from 120.

Since these measures were introduced in 2006, 178 Temporary Resident Permits have been issue to 73 foreign nationals.

We've made changes to ensure victims of human trafficking continue to receive health-care benefits.

We've provided funding to community organizations and provinces to develop training programs, such as an online training program for First Responders and service providers who may come into contact with victims of human trafficking.

We have also taken steps on the legislative front to strengthen our laws as they relate to human trafficking.

My colleague, MP Joy Smith led the effort to enact a five-year minimum sentence for cases of human trafficking involving victims under the age of 18.

We've supported her recent Private Members' Bill that would ensure that Canadians who commit human trafficking offences abroad will no longer be able to avoid punishment under Canadian laws.

And, as part of the Safe Streets and Communities Act that was passed in March, we have introduced measures that protect foreign workers who are vulnerable to abuse or exploitation.

While these and many other initiatives are underway at home and abroad, we believe it is time to consolidate these activities into a comprehensive action plan, particularly as the number of human traffickers and victims identified by police continues to grow.

Today, I am very proud to launch Canada's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking.

This is a robust plan that demonstrates Canada's unwavering pledge to action.

It is a roadmap that builds on our current responses and commitments to our partners.

It leverages on our international and domestic knowledge, and it puts in place significant initiatives that will address human trafficking in all its forms, both sex trafficking and forced labour trafficking.

Canada's National Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking focuses on four core elements, known as the 4-Pillars.

First, we will prevent human trafficking by enhancing training to our police, border agents and other front-line workers to recognize signs of human trafficking; by raising awareness among Canadians; and by working with communities to identify people and places most at risk.

Second, we will protect and provide assistance to victims of human trafficking by increasing financial support for victim services; and by identifying and protecting domestic and foreign nationals in Canada who are vulnerable to trafficking, including young females aged 15 to 21. 

Third, we will detect, investigate and prosecute offenders by strengthening the laws within our criminal justice system; by providing specialized training and education for prosecutors and law enforcement; and by improving intelligence collection and collaboration.

Today, I am announcing Canada's first integrated law enforcement team dedicated to identifying, disrupting, and prosecuting human traffickers in our country. They will be targeted and held accountable for their crimes.

And, finally, we will work in partnership with relevant stakeholders to build on existing policies and tools; to ensure a comprehensive and coordinated approach; and to promote strong research and better information sharing to improve our methods of collecting, tracking and reporting on data related to human trafficking.

We will also work to continually improve our response with our partners and stakeholders through annual roundtables so that we can move forward together to combat this despicable crime.

Provincial and territorial governments have a major role to play in supporting victims and ensuring local police have the resources necessary to address this crime in their communities.

This Action Plan is ambitious, and it requires clear direction.

To this end, a Human Trafficking Taskforce, led by my department — Public Safety Canada — and composed of key departments and stakeholders, will be created to replace the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons.

The Taskforce will oversee the implementation of the plan, coordinate the federal anti-human trafficking response and report annually to Canadians on its progress.

To further ensure the success of the Action Plan, our government is directing more than $25 million over four years to implement this plan.

Ladies and gentlemen, our Government is committed to support trafficking victims, and bring their perpetrators to justice.

I noted at the outset that, here in Canada, the majority of human trafficking victims are women and children, many of whom come from vulnerable groups and communities.

We are fully committed to addressing this horrific crime.

I will now let Minister Ambrose tell you more about how the National Action Plan will help us support these vulnerable communities.

Thank you.

Date modified:

2015-11-26