On Parliament Hill

No one is as tall as one who bends to help a child. It’s the theme of the Shriners and is a statement that cannot be argued.

More than a year ago, Kildonan-St.Paul Conservative Member of Parliament, Joy Smith, introduced a Private Members’ Bill to combat human trafficking in Canada and our Government is proud to say this Bill will now become law.

Canada’s Criminal Code will be amended to include a new offence that will specifically address child traffickers. The new law will provide a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment for anyone convicted of trafficking a minor in Canada, and a minimum of six years imprisonment for cases with aggravating factors.

Human trafficking is the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of a person for the purpose of exploitation, typically in the sex trade. While we enjoy great freedoms and safety in Provencher, the same cannot be said throughout the world. It is estimated that over two million people are victims of human trafficking each year. Unicef believes as many as one million children are sold into slavery each year. Annual profits of this practise are reaching $32 billion a year and could soon replace drugs and weapons as the criminal business of choice. Canada is a destination for many of these slaves, but is also becoming a source country as well. This crime has reached all elements of our society, from young girls taken from the streets of Montreal and sold abroad, to vulnerable children being seduced on First Nations reserves. And we believe, like all Canadians, that human trafficking must be stopped.

There has been strong support for this new law from across the country. Over the past 18 months, tens of thousands of Canadians have signed petitions and sent letters demanding that the penalties to child traffickers fully reflect the gravity of their crime. Many national organizations also lent their support for this legislation including law enforcement agencies, victim’s services, NGO’s and First Nations representatives.

MP Joy Smith has worked tirelessly and diligently to bring the issue of human trafficking into the minds of Canadians. She’s been recognized as a leading expert and speaker on the issue and is working at the national and international level to end human trafficking.

The passage of this Bill is an important step forward in addressing human trafficking here in Canada. It sends a strong message to those involved in this terrible crime that Canada will not accept the exploitation and sale of our children, and any attempts to do so will be met with stiff consequences.

As you enjoy time with your family this summer, please take the time to remember the parents who send their children off to school or the playground to never see them again.  It is our Government’s intention to stand up for Canadians and children throughout the world.