Canada’s Surging Human Trafficking Problem
Human trafficking is a growing problem in Canada, but seems to be treated lightly by the legal system. Overall, this points to a larger kidnapping issue throughout the country.
According to Statistics Canada, there were 3,996 reported incidents of human trafficking between 2012 and 2022. Almost all cases were against “overwhelmingly young” women and girls, with almost 70 per cent younger than 25 and 24 percent aged 17 and younger. However, only around 40 percent of cases resulted in charges being pressed by police. The report stated that 83 percent of cases concluded with charges being stayed, withdrawn, dismissed or discharged.
Durham Region Human Trafficking Infographic (Source: Durham Region)
In an interview with Global News, James McLean, head of research and policy at the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, talks about why it is so hard to convict someone of this crime. He explains that victims will have to recount their experiences several times, to different authorities, which is a painful and deterring step.
“This has become a major obstacle when the survivor has experienced exploitative trauma and abuse and have to relive it through the court system for months or even years,” he said.
Near the border, there is a highly lucrative human trafficking market for undocumented immigrants, especially from and to the United States. In the 2023 U.S. fiscal year, there were 42,913 encounters, an increase from 12,345 two years before. According to an article by CBC News, Matthew Murphy, an assistant special agent based in Washington state with Homeland Security Investigations, said that Mexican citizens are exploiting Canadian entry rules by flying to Canada to cross into the U.S. They often use human trafficking rings to travel, usually in big groups.
In 2014, Conservative Minister Steven Blaney made headlines when he announced the deportation of 20 Hungarians involved in a human smuggling ring (Image: CBC)
According to Murphy, in the article, he states that citizens of India were the primary group trying to cross the border illegally. Rajinder Pal Singh, also known as Jaspal Gill, was a California resident who was sentenced to 45 months in prison in June 2023 after he admitted to being a "key member" of a smuggling network that unlawfully smuggled 800 Indian nationals into the United States from Canada over a four-year period.
Human trafficking is a significant issue in Canada, and the lack of litigation and punishment is a major factor. Whether it is domestic attacks on the younger population or the need to travel for immigrants, it is clear that human trafficking needs to be treated more seriously by this government.
Sources / Further Reading:
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/thunder-bay/fake-kidnapping-facebook-post-opp-investigation-1.7219932
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/hmn-trffckng/abt-hmn-trffckng-en.aspx
https://globalnews.ca/news/10149293/human-trafficking-guilty-decision-statcan/
https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/85-005-x/2023001/article/00002-eng.htm
https://www.publicsafety.gc.ca/cnt/cntrng-crm/hmn-trffckng/abt-hmn-trffckng-en.aspx
