Government and Community Responses to Human Trafficking in Canada

As part of the government’s longstanding commitment to protect the vulnerable, Canada’s National Action Plan  (Plan d’action national de lutte contre la traite de personnes) proposes positive strategies and initiatives that will support organizations that provide assistance to victims while protecting foreign nationals from being subjected to illegitimate or unsafe work.

National Child Exploitation Coordination Centre (NCECC) (Centre national de coordination contre l'exploitation des enfants) is the law enforcement component of Canada’s National Strategy for the Protection of Children from Sexual Exploitation on the internet.

The Government of Canada developed Victims Matter (Victimes) to help individuals find police-based and community-based victim services in Canada.

In British Columbia, the Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons (OCTIP), within the Ministry of Justice, is responsible for the province's overall strategy to address human trafficking. OCTIP can provide coordinative assistance for human trafficking cases in BC and can be reached toll-free at 1-888-712-7974. As a result of a series of consultations with stakeholders across the province in 2012, the introduction of the B.C. Action Plan to Combat Human Trafficking outlines the province’s direction for the next three years (2013-2016) by laying out priority focus areas and actions.

The Action Coalition on Human Trafficking (ACT Alberta) is a non-government organization identifying and responding to human trafficking in Alberta. ACT Alberta's work includes protecting trafficked persons and preventing human trafficking through public education. ACT Alberta chapters across the province can provide coordination and assistance for human trafficking cases.

A research report entitled Human Trafficking in Calgary: Informing a Localized Response acknowledges the insufficient amount of knowledge about how communities are responding to human trafficking and local strategies to address the rights and needs of trafficked persons. This report offers ten recommendations that identify potential responses to key issues highlighted throughout the report in the area of human trafficking in Alberta.

The Government of Alberta created Cultural Competency: A Self-Assessment Guide for Human Service Organizations to allow for better understanding of cultural competency and to plan and implement culturally competent practices.

In April 2012, Manitoba passed legislation called The Child Sexual Exploitation and Human Trafficking Act (Loi sur l’exploitation sexuelle d’enfants et la traite de personnes). This law creates a protection order that requires the exploiter/trafficker to stay away from the victim. It also allows a victim of human trafficking to sue the trafficker for money.

Launched in 2008, Tracia’s Trust (Le Tracia’s Trust) emphasizes implementing more prevention initiatives, developing a continuum of services for victims, increasing public awareness and making offenders more accountable. Tracia’s Trust considers all forms of sexual exploitation, including prostitution, pornography, sex trafficking, sex tourism and internet luring.

In 2010, the International Bureau for Children’s Rights (IBCR) produced a curriculum on child trafficking for social workers in Quebec. Contact the IBCR (Le bureau international des droits des enfants) for more information.

The PEI Human Trafficking Response Guide contains information for victims of human trafficking as well as for individuals who are in a position to assist such victims. The guide was created to inform community members how to recognize a trafficked person, what steps to take and what services are available to help.

The Toronto Human Trafficking Staff Report includes recommendations to strengthen protection of vulnerable women and children, improve services available to victims of human trafficking and to reduce human trafficking in the greater Toronto area.

The Canadian Council for Refugees National Forum on Trafficking is meant to broaden and strengthen the network of NGOs working on trafficking across the country. Additionally, experiences and responses are shared while policy development priorities and strategies are identified to form responses to overcome barriers at different levels. For more information, see the Report of National Forum and Workshop on Trafficking, 28-29 November, 2012 (Rapport: Faits saillants du Forum pancanadien sur la traite des personnes, 28 novembre 2012).

An online training program (Initiative de formation en ligne pour lutter contre La Traite des Personnes) (February 2014) was launched by the province of Ontario, through the Ministry of the Attorney General’s Ontario Victim Services and developed by MCIS Language Services. It includes resources, tools, and tips for professionals in Ontario and the general public who may encounter trafficked persons.

 

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