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QUESTION PERIOD — Public Safety

Human Trafficking

November 6, 2024


Hon. Salma Ataullahjan [ - ]

Senator Gold, crime has been on the rise since your government came into power. Just last week Statistics Canada reported that human trafficking incidents have increased by an alarming 73% since Trudeau first became Prime Minister. The same report highlighted that the vast majority of victims are women and girls, and one quarter are minors.

Senator Gold, crime has spiralled out of control under this government. What plan does your government have, if any, to combat the human trafficking happening within our borders?

Hon. Marc Gold (Government Representative in the Senate)

Human trafficking of women, girls, men and others who identify themselves in different ways is one of the most repugnant and horrific abuses of human rights imaginable.

Notwithstanding that we have laws on our books criminalizing this, notwithstanding that we have police forces — whether provincial, municipal or federal — seized with and working hard to identify and prosecute such cases, they continue to plague our society with horrible results.

This government remains committed to continuing the work it does in partnership with the provinces, the territories, police forces and other agencies to combat this unacceptable crime against humanity.

Senator Ataullahjan [ - ]

Senator Gold, recently one of the Greater Toronto Area mayors specifically asked this government for help to protect international students, especially girls, who are being trafficked. The indiscriminate immigration under this government has led us to this situation. What is your government doing to help those who are more susceptible to being trafficked and exploited?

Senator, I do not want to assume that I heard you correctly. I do not assume you were saying that the horrible trafficking of women and girls is because of immigrants who have arrived in this country. I do not believe that is what you were saying, so I will not answer in that regard. The government continues to work hard to stop this horrible crime from happening and will continue to do so.

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