Are you keeping data?
Evidence of meeting #27 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Evidence of meeting #27 for Status of Women in the 40th Parliament, 2nd Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was rcmp.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:45 a.m.
Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety
We're keeping the data on the specific projects, yes, data on human trafficking.
11:45 a.m.
Liberal
June 11th, 2009 / 11:45 a.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you for appearing before the committee today.
Those of you who were here during the last Parliament may recall that during the 2006 election campaign, I discovered that a young Ethiopian woman was being kept against her will in a residence in Laval. We contacted the RCMP officers in Laval, and they did a very good job dealing with the situation. The people in question were arrested and prosecuted, but the judge found them not guilty. Indeed, it is very difficult to prove forcible confinement, as well as coercion.
When we commence proceedings in such situations, sections 279.01 to 279.04 of the Criminal Code provide us with tools, but I think there are some shortcomings. Indeed, if it is not possible to charge those who bring people into the country for trafficking purposes, either for prostitution or forced labour, the prevention that you do in the field and the fact that suspects are apprehended do not count for much.
How can we change the law so that it is more effective?
Mr. Stewart, could you tell me how many people have benefited to date from the various measures established by Immigration Canada?
11:50 a.m.
Supt Michel Aubin
With regard to the investigations and legal proceedings, I am aware of what happened in Laval, Ms. Demers. We are doing a great deal to make the police forces as well as the federal and provincial Crown prosecutors more aware of these problems. I will not speak about that particular case, but it goes without saying that prosecutions always depend on the evidence that has been gathered. I do not think that we should use this particular case as an example that would apply throughout all of Canada. However, I can tell you that a few years ago, there were five convictions in Canada. Currently, 17 cases involving trafficking in persons are before Canadian courts. The situation is improving thanks to greater awareness and training.
One must also take into account that the Criminal Code is not the only legislation that applies. The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act also contains provisions that can be used for international cases. It is up to the prosecutor to determine what charges can be laid, in keeping with the evidence that has been gathered. One of the tasks that our coordination centre does is to train police officers to investigate such crimes so as to prove forcible confinement and coercion.
11:50 a.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Currently, how much trafficking in persons is there in Canada and in Quebec?
11:50 a.m.
Supt Michel Aubin
The RCMP is currently assessing the threat and the level of such crimes. However, the goal is to identify criminal organizations that are involved and to determine where we should be focusing our efforts. I am having discussions with other representatives of the RCMP in the provinces as well as with representatives of municipal police forces to determine how we can do more to tackle this problem. We have begun to conduct joint operations that go beyond what we did in the past. We mustn't limit ourselves to what is going on at the front door, so to speak, namely procuring and prostitution. Rather, we should be investigating what is going on at the back of the house. We are currently making such efforts.
I am not a lawyer, but I think that this legislation is young. Nonetheless, Canadian police forces are paying a lot of attention to this problem.
11:50 a.m.
Supt Michel Aubin
According to the statistics I have here, last year there were five convictions. At present, 17 cases of specific charges of trafficking in persons are before the courts. Thirteen other cases for 2008-2009 involved charges related to trafficking in persons.
11:50 a.m.
Supt Michel Aubin
It may be one victim or multiple victims. It depends on the case.
11:50 a.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
So a fairly large number of people are involved.
Mr. Stewart, can you answer my question?
11:55 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Yes. Regarding the number of people who receive services, between May 2006 and December 2008, 44 people were referred to CIC so that their situation could be assessed. Eighteen of them received a temporary resident permit, and half of those later had their permit renewed. As for the other people, there were various reasons why they did not obtain a permit. Some of them did not turn up for the interview, while others followed a different procedure to apply as an immigrant. In some cases, our officers determined that the person was not truly a victim of trafficking in persons.
11:55 a.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Can you tell us today whether the people that you helped were able to settle here? Or did they have to return to their country of origin?
11:55 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
Unfortunately, I don't have that information.
11:55 a.m.
Associate Assistant Deputy Minister, Operations, Department of Citizenship and Immigration
That is part of the situation.
Furthermore, there are privacy issues at play. I'm sorry.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry
I can give you ten seconds, if you like, to match you with Madam Neville.
11:55 a.m.
Bloc
Nicole Demers Bloc Laval, QC
Mr. MacKillop, often people say that the Olympic Games are not prestigious enough, so it is less likely that there will be any trafficking in persons during the games, in comparison with other, more prestigious events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix or a film festival. Is that true?
11:55 a.m.
Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety
Unfortunately, I do not have any information that would allow us to compare those two events. We just know that during sporting events, up until now, we have not seen any increase in trafficking in persons. However, at least this allows us to channel our efforts.