Ontario Recognizes Human Trafficking Awareness Day

On February 22nd, our government marked Human Trafficking Awareness Day to encourage dialogue, support survivors, and to honour the memory of those who we failed to protect. Raising awareness is an important part of protecting people from falling victim to human trafficking. We are proud of the great work done across the province to shed light on this issue, including the work to ensure that Health and Safety inspectors and Employment Standards Officers are trained to recognize the signs of human trafficking.

Human trafficking underscores why our government believes that victims must be at the centre of law enforcement. A recent operation in Barrie that rescued 43 labour human trafficking victims shows the critical role of law enforcement in the fight against human trafficking. As the Minister of Community Safety and Correctional Services, I expressed our province’s profound gratitude to the Barrie Police, the Ontario Provincial Police, Barrie and Area Victim Services, the Canadian Border Services Agency, and the County of Simcoe Paramedic Service for bringing these 43 people to safety. To be clear, it is our police officers and community safety partners who are on the front-lines of the fight against modern slavery. Our government will continue to stand with our police heroes to ensure the security of the people.

We must recognize and understand that human trafficking dehumanizes, devalues and exploits people in our communities. Recognizing and understanding these uncomfortable truths are necessary to be a part of the chain of prevention and protection.

I would encourage you to learn the indicators, and to help by talking openly about this terrible abuse and sharing your awareness. You could help to save a life.

If you are currently in danger of human trafficking, call 911 or the local police. More information about the human trafficking problem in Ontario can be found at the Ministry of Children, Community and Social Services website.

Peel Regional Police and the Town of Caledon are working together to promote awareness and prevention of human trafficking. In fact, 28 human trafficking incidents were reported to Caledon\Dufferin Victim Services between April and September 2018. Please contact Caledon\Dufferin Victim Services at 519-942-1452 for reporting and support.

The Ontario government is providing help to survivors of human trafficking through counselling, work training, health services, peer mentorship, and family supports at this helpline: 1-833-999-9211, TTY 1-888-340-1001. Legal supports for human trafficking victims can also be accessed through this link, as well as free online training about the issue of human trafficking in Ontario at this link.

If you have any questions about human trafficking prevention, please email us at Sylvia.jonesco@pc.ola.org or call us at 1-800-265-1603.

-30-