HUMAN TRAFFICKING

February 09, 2009

I have a high regard for one of my colleagues, Joy Smith, Conservative Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, Manitoba.  Ms. Smith has worked tirelessly on eradicating human trafficking and child exploitation both in Canada and abroad.

On January 29th, she introduced her Private Members’ Bill -268 –“An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen”.  This Act will amend the criminal code to include a minimum prison term of five years for cases where the trafficked victims were under the age of eighteen. 

MP Smith worked with the RCMP and Advocacy Groups on this file and has been our Government’s torch bearer in shedding light on this unacceptable dehumanizing practice in Canada.

Below, in MP Joy Smith’s own words, are her reasons for bringing Bill C-268 forward.

“I believe that Canada must make clear that it will not tolerate the trafficking of its children. Based on the recent convictions, I believe there is a need for Parliament to provide additional guidance to the courts on the trafficking of minors and formally denounce the trafficking of minors.

Last year, a Niagara man was convicted of human trafficking. He made over $350,000 off of a young 15 year old girl by sexually exploiting her daily over a period of two years. He only received 3 years for the offence of human trafficking and received credit for the 404 days already served.

I want to point out that other countries do not take this issue lightly. For example, Australia’s Criminal Code prescribes a sentence of 12 years for general cases of human trafficking. However, in the case of international and domestic trafficking of children, Australia’s Criminal code prescribes a sentence of 25 years [Sections 271.4 & 271.7 respectively].

Our own Criminal Code currently provides for a mandatory minimum sentence of 5 years for the aggravated offence of living off the avails of prostitution of a person under the age of eighteen years. The trafficking of children is similar to this offence but often has much more severe consequences for the victim.  My bill will ensure traffickers of children will receive similar sentences for such a grievous crime.

In addition, in October 2008, a number of NGOs and government officials from Canada and the US gathered to prepare recommendations for the World Congress III Against the Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents. In the report, Canada was urged to amend its Criminal Code to include a mandatory minimum penalty for child trafficking. 

Today I bring forward another important part of the fight against this modern day slavery. It is my sincere hope that all parties of this Parliament can stand united against the trafficking of our children.

I remain convinced that by working together, we can end human trafficking and slavery in Canada and abroad.”

You can see why I hold Joy Smith in such high regard, and you can be certain that as your Member of Parliament, I will be supporting Joy and her bill to end human trafficking in Canada. 


MP Colin Mayes
Okanagan-Shuswap