I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to meeting number 70 of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights.
Pursuant to the House order adopted on March 22, 2023, the committee is meeting in public to begin its study of Bill S-224, an act to amend the Criminal Code in relation to trafficking in persons.
Today's meeting is taking place in a hybrid format pursuant to the House order of June 23, 2022. Members are attending in person in the room and remotely using the Zoom application.
I'd like make a few comments for the benefit of the witnesses and members.
Please wait until I recognize you by name before speaking. For those participating by video conference, click on the microphone icon to activate your mike, and please mute yourself when you're not speaking.
To access interpretation, for those on Zoom, you have the choice at the bottom of your screen of either floor, English or French audio. For those in the room, you can use the earpiece and select the desired channel.
A reminder that all comments should be addressed to the chair. For members in the room, if you wish to speak, please raise your hand. For members on Zoom, please use the “raise hand” function.
The clerk and I will manage the speaking order as best we can. We appreciate your patience and understanding in this regard.
Welcome everyone.
We are studying Bill S-224, an act to amend the Criminal Code in relation to trafficking in persons. To help us with the study today, we have Dr. Janine Benedet, QC, professor of law at the Peter Allard School of Law at UBC. We also have, from the Brave Education for Trafficking Prevention foundation, Holly Wood, researcher and educator, also via video conference; and we have Sandra Ka Hon Chu from the Canadian Alliance for Sex Work Law Reform.
I apologize. I think we had to cancel you last time. Thank you for rescheduling and coming back. Things in Parliament happen, and we have to adjust from time to time, but thanks for being here.
You'll each have five minutes to deliver opening remarks, and then we will have questions coming from the members. Hopefully anything you might have left out you can answer within that time.
We'll begin with Dr. Benedet, please, for five minutes.