Thank you, Madam Chair, members of the committee.
You have already had an impact on the efforts of our law enforcement officials to combat human trafficking.
You've already accomplished that.
I'd just say briefly to Ms. Mathyssen--and we've corresponded on a number of issues, which I appreciate, or to any committee members--if you have a situation in which you hear of something that happens at the border, and there's a possibility of somebody at risk of human trafficking, and it didn't go as you would have hoped, please get that information to me.
On your direct question, Madam Chair, it is important to coordinate and get the right kind of information. That's why we've given $240,000 from Public Safety to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics. That's just one of a number of ways we have to get the right information.
I'll just close with the thought that we have—and I know this is your message—a dual message here, the message to those who are victims: there are people who will help you. There are people who will protect you. We want to get you out of the clutches of those predators, and we extend that to you. And that will be across the country.
And to the predators and the perpetrators: I can't think of many things more despicable than somebody enslaving another human being. It is hugely ironic that on the 200th anniversary of the abolition of the slave trade we would have to be looking at people who still want to enslave others.
We will stand with you in that great task to put an end to that through legislation, being tough on the perpetrators and the predators, and through education and prevention, reaching out so that we can have indeed a society and a country where people are truly free.