The Federal Government has announced a $75-million national strategy to combat human trafficking.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness Ralph Goodale and Delta MP and Minister of Public Services and Procurement and Accessibility Carla Qualtrough on Wednesday.
This funding follows on the heels of what was included in the federal budget, which provided $14.51 million over five years and $2.89 million per year ongoing for the new Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline for victims and survivors in need of services and support. The hotline is a national, multilingual (200 languages, including 27 Indigenous languages), 24/7/365 service operated by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, a national charitable organization.
“Human trafficking is a despicable crime that disproportionately affects women, girls, and the marginalized,” said Goodale. “We must put an end to human trafficking, support victims and survivors of this devastating crime and bring its perpetrators to justice.”
According to the federal government, the new strategy takes a whole-of-government approach that will: empower victims and survivors to regain self-confidence and control over their lives, prevent more of these crimes from taking place, better protect those who are most vulnerable to trafficking, prosecute human traffickers for their heinous crimes and embrace partnerships with provinces and territories and other organizations.
To support this work, the Goodale has appointed a new special advisor on Human Trafficking, retired RCMP Assistant Commissioner and member of the Mohawks of Kanesatake Shirley Cuillierrier.
Cuillierrier will offer ongoing advice and recommendations to government on its efforts to combat human trafficking and bring awareness domestically and internationally.
“As Canada’s largest purchaser of goods and services, the Government of Canada has a responsibility to procure ethically sourced goods and services,” added Qualtrough. “That’s why we are expanding the Code of Conduct for Procurement, with the goal of ensuring that the government is doing business with vendors whose supply chains are free from human trafficking and labour exploitation.”
