In our experience, there are a lot of trafficked people in Canada who are simply too afraid to come forward and ask for anything. The reason they're so afraid is because they're aware that there are no supports in place for them if they do so.
First of all, they need the assurance that if they come forward, they will not be forced to testify. Hopefully, they will come to the point--and everybody wants that--where they're ready to testify. But if people are forced to testify, they're just leaving one situation of control for another. It's not something they see a whole lot of hope in doing.
They need to know they will not be criminalized anywhere in the process. Obviously if they've been under the control of traffickers for varying lengths of time, they may have done many things that are technically criminal. They need to know they're not going to be criminalized.
They need to know there is support for making a transition. There are migrant workers who are clearly trafficked and yet far too afraid to come forward. If they come forward, they need to know there is a shelter available where they can get away. Yes, there are lots of shelters in Canada, but most operate at over-capacity, so for an influx of people, that's just not going to work. There need to be shelters where they know they can get away. That has to be a minimum.
The reason I said six months for the open work permit is because that's the minimum for being able to work. That needs to be an option. Obviously they may need some social assistance for the short term. People are ready, willing, and able to work. They want to make that transition, but they may need the supports to be able to do that.
Again, as I said, most people we have talked to simply can't imagine being able to recreate a life in their home country. There's the social stigma alone. In fact, in the refugee process, this has been identified as an element of persecution. It's very real for them. They can't imagine going back.
The presumption needs to be on being able to make the transition to life here. So job training, language training, and some short-term social assistance needs to be in place. With those kinds of supports, I think many more people will come forward, especially migrant workers.