Evidence of meeting #46 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 enforcement.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Bob Usui  Inspector, Special Investigation Section, Vancouver Police Department
Barry MacKillop  Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety
Michel Aubin  Director, Federal and International Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Ken Lamontagne  Director, Intelligence Risk Assessment and Analysis Division, Enforcement Branch, Canada Border Services Agency
Paul Desautels  Director, Operational Management Coordination, Temporary Resident Program Delivery, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Marie-Claude Arsenault  Non-Commissioned Officer, Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

I will now call the meeting to order.

As you can see from your agenda, the orders of the day are, from 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., the issue of the 2010 Winter Olympics and human trafficking.

We have Bob Usui from the Vancouver Police Department. Welcome.

Can you hear me?

3:30 p.m.

Bob Usui Inspector, Special Investigation Section, Vancouver Police Department

Yes, I can. Good afternoon. Thank you.

3:30 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

We are on video conference.

We also have, from the Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Paul Desautels. From the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, we have Michel Aubin and Marie-Claude Arsenault. We also have, from the Department of Public Safety, Barry MacKillop. And from the Canada Border Services Agency, we have Ken Lamontagne.

The usual way we deal with these issues, as you know.... Many of you, at least your departments and institutions, appeared as witnesses before this committee on June 11 to speak about your preparations for the 2010 Olympics in the event of trafficking. So we heard from you and we were relatively satisfied that you were on top of things, even though you said you didn't think there would be an increase because it hadn't been seen to be so in other venues where the Olympics were held.

However, some information has come from the media that suggested some of the plans were not necessarily in place, that the Vancouver Police Department had not been involved in any of the fieldwork and was not given the resources it needed to do some of the education, public awareness, and public training it wished to do. We also heard through that same media from an Ontario sex trade worker--she is not here, we don't have time to do so--who said her pimp was preparing a lot of them to travel. So whether or not there will be international trafficking, there is a question as to whether there will be national trafficking.

We've asked you to come here so we could get an update and so you could perhaps answer some questions as to the veracity of the report we've heard. We have asked the local police, the VPD, to be here to speak to their readiness and to whether they feel they have been given all the resources needed to also be ready on the ground.

Because we only have an hour, I'm going to give each group five minutes to make a quick presentation, and that includes you, Bob. Then we will have a question period, but I'll talk to you about that when it happens.

We'll start with Bob.

Welcome.

3:30 p.m.

Inspector, Special Investigation Section, Vancouver Police Department

Bob Usui

Thank you.

I really want to thank all of you for inviting me here to address the issue of human trafficking and the Olympics. It seems to be very topical and seems to be in the news a lot. I've been called by different agencies, as well as the media, to give some press conferences or interviews on this issue.

I feel that we are very prepared for this. We work very closely with a lot of other agencies, those being CBSA, the RCMP, and OCTF, the Organized Crime Task Force, as well as other municipal departments. The vice unit, which is one of many units that fall under me, deals strictly with investigations regarding bawdy houses, as well as Internet luring—those are the big ones that we investigate—and those who live off the avails, the pimps who are victimizing these women and really taking advantage of them.

So far we haven't seen an increase in trafficking and we have no intelligence to indicate otherwise. However, we've had some cases--the most recent one was about two and a half years ago--where we did an investigation at a massage parlour and one of the women who was working there had been trafficked. Most of the other ones we see right now in our bawdy house investigations are Asian-based, and they appear, through our investigation and through interviews with these women, to be there of their own free will and they are there to make money.

We do a lot of education and training with outside agencies, as well as with our own members, in regard to these types of investigations. We work very closely with a lot of outside agencies such as WISH and PACE, these groups that support sex trade workers.

We have other avenues to work with and to go to in regard to support. For instance, the Salvation Army just opened a 10-bed safe house at Belkin House, which really assists us. If we have a bawdy house investigation, typically we don't know how many women will be in there, but in the ones I've dealt with, there could be up to six to 10 women. That's a problem at one o'clock in the morning. Where do we place them? Now we have a place we can put them that's safe and where they can get support and be fed, and there are all these other support mechanisms there to really help these women.

Anyway, that's what we're doing on the ground here. As I said, we get lots of support from the other agencies, such as the RCMP and CBSA, and we work very closely with them. We have a very good working relationship.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much, Bob.

Now I'll move to Monsieur Desautels.

3:35 p.m.

Barry MacKillop Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety

With your indulgence, Madam Chair, I am Barry MacKillop, from Public Safety. Perhaps I could kick this off as one of the co-chairs of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, and then we can move to the agencies and departments for their specific activities.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

So you would like to shift the order.

3:35 p.m.

Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety

Barry MacKillop

If you don't mind.

3:35 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

That's fine. Go ahead.

3:35 p.m.

Director General, Law Enforcement and Border Strategies Directorate, Department of Public Safety

Barry MacKillop

Thank you.

Thank you for the opportunity to return before the committee today to provide an update on key federal initiatives that address concerns of a possible increase in human trafficking as a result of the 2010 winter games and to underscore the government's commitment to ensure the safety and security of all Canadian citizens and foreign visitors at this international sporting event.

My colleagues from the RCMP and CBSA will provide an update on their respective efforts to combat human trafficking in advance of and during the winter games, and my colleague from Citizenship and Immigration Canada will discuss immigration policies and initiatives that are in place to protect victims of trafficking.

There continues to be increased public attention on whether the government has implemented concrete and coordinated measures to address a possible increase in human trafficking as a result of Canada's hosting of the 2010 Winter Games. I would like to reassure the committee that we have undertaken a number of steps to address this concern, which has been informed by other countries' experience in preparing for similar international sporting events.

Federal anti-trafficking efforts are not new; they have evolved over time through the expertise and dedication of the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, of which I am co-chair with the Department of Justice. This working group is comprised of 17 federal departments and agencies that work together to develop policies, coordinate our collective efforts, and share information on anti-trafficking initiatives. As is well known, the framework that guides our work is reflective of four pillars: preventing trafficking; protecting victims; prosecuting offenders; and building partnerships both domestically and internationally.

As my colleagues will further elaborate, to date our strategies recognize a continued need to raise awareness among key stakeholders and the public more broadly, address the needs of victims, and strengthen prevention and enforcement strategies such as dedicated law enforcement training to curb this horrific crime. To this end, preparation for the winter games builds on and strengthens existing measures nationally, with a particular focus on the Vancouver area. This approach is very similar to the German experience for the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

I would like to take a few moments to highlight a few key projects and collaborative efforts led by the working group and Public Safety Canada to address human trafficking, all of which form part of a wider government effort to prepare for the 2010 winter games.

Federal working group officials have collaborated with key partners in British Columbia, namely the RCMP's “E” Division; the B.C. provincial Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, also known as OCTIP; and the Vancouver Police Department. A number of meetings have been held with these partners in order to share information and discuss respective operational strategies prior to the winter games.

As far back as October 2008, officials met with the Vancouver organizing committee for the games and the RCMP's integrated security unit to discuss how best to incorporate anti-trafficking measures into the broader security planning for this event.

As announced on January 15, 2009, Public Safety Canada, the RCMP, and the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association partnered to develop a national awareness campaign, available through the media, and to use the Crime Stoppers 1-800 national anonymous tip line. Crime Stoppers posters and brochures are available now in communities, and its board of directors have been trained to begin community presentations on human trafficking across its national chapters. Call centre employees for Crime Stoppers have also been trained with the protocol in hand to assist in receiving and transferring calls.

Shortly, Crime Stoppers will also begin developing a television re-enactment video and newspaper, print, and radio spots, which will form part of the national awareness campaign called Blue Blindfold, which we anticipate will be launched in January 2010. In advance of the games, Crime Stoppers will increasingly focus its awareness efforts in the Vancouver area.

Funded by the Department of Public Safety, we are coordinating a training workshop for crowns in BC on human trafficking to be held in January 2010. Alberta and Yukon crowns have also been invited. This initiative is complementary to the RCMP-led law enforcement awareness workshops which have taken place across Canada for approximately two years now. Together with Justice Canada, we are jointly funding a project by the BC Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons to deliver basic training curriculum on human trafficking for first responders in BC, such as shelter staff, faith-based organizations and victims' services.

Finally, we are commissioning research on the impact, if any, of the 2010 winter games on the prevalence of human trafficking. This research will examine the types of anti-trafficking initiatives undertaken and the role that planned training and awareness raising played in addressing the concern of human trafficking during and after the games. The outcome will help inform the development of future approaches to combat human trafficking for similar sporting events hosted by Canada.

Madam Chair, I would like to reassure the committee that the government is committed to protecting vulnerable women, children, and men from traffickers who may seek to exploit them before, during, and after the winter games. As my colleagues will further elaborate, focused training has been a priority, awareness raising continues to take place, and collaborative initiatives are being developed to combat human trafficking nationally, with an emphasis on the Vancouver area prior to the games.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

I will now ask my colleague, Superintendent Michel Aubin, to say a few words.

3:45 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Monsieur Aubin.

3:45 p.m.

Superintendent Michel Aubin Director, Federal and International Operations, Royal Canadian Mounted Police

Good afternoon, Madam Chair, and members of the committee. Thank you for inviting us to appear before you again.

For those who are following my prepared notes, and in the spirit of respecting the time limit, I will be skipping through the first four pages. The first four pages emphasize what the RCMP is doing through its Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, based in Ottawa.

I will highlight a couple of things that were mentioned the last time we appeared concerning awareness across Canada.

Since 2008, in excess of 2,200 law enforcement and prosecutors have attended the RCMP human trafficking awareness workshops that were delivered in more than 20 cities across Canada. Members of the national coordination centre and regional human trafficking awareness coordinators travelled extensively across Canada to raise awareness on human trafficking. To date they have provided awareness sessions to more than 21,000 law enforcement, government, and non-government organizations and the public across Canada.

As well, in 2009 more than 3,000 human trafficking law enforcement tool kits, of which we have samples here, have been distributed to law enforcement agencies across Canada, including 342 in British Columbia alone. A mass distribution of the tool kits to non-governmental organizations is planned for 2010.

I will focus now on the human trafficking initiatives that have been put in place for British Columbia specifically.

In that province, the RCMP Border Integrity Program has a detailed approach in place to prevent human trafficking and address any information that might surface leading up to the 2010 Olympics. This approach has a number of prongs and includes the monitoring of intelligence, raising awareness, building on partnerships and proactively engaging in human trafficking investigations.

This approach ensures that we are both comprehensive and inclusive.

The RCMP, aside from its own criminal intelligence program, leads a 2010 integrated security unit joint intelligence group, which monitors intelligence on criminal activities related to the Olympics and Paralympics, including human trafficking. The RCMP border integrity immigration and passport unit in British Columbia liaises with various units and partner agencies, as well as with the Vancouver police, to gather and disseminate intelligence relating to human trafficking in the Olympics in a timely fashion. In addition, the national coordination centre in Ottawa coordinates and disseminates intelligence among law enforcement across Canada, including intelligence stemming from the 2010 integrated security unit joint intelligence group.

On the topic of awareness, the British Columbia human trafficking coordinator has taken an active role in raising awareness within that province. Within the last two years leading up to the Olympics, nine workshops were conducted in the Okanagan region, the Lower Mainland, and Vancouver Island, to a total of 714 law enforcement personnel. In addition, awareness sessions have been delivered to close to 600 law enforcement, government, and non-government organizations and the public.

Attendees were trained to recognize human trafficking indicators. Law enforcement officers were provided with tools to better equip them to detect and investigate human trafficking cases. Officers were made aware of the potential for an increase in human trafficking during the lead-up to the 2010 Olympics, and they were requested to add an intelligence-gathering component to their human trafficking investigations, specifically intelligence directly related to an increase in human trafficking during the Olympics.

During the workshops RCMP cases were presented to law enforcement, prompting other units within the Lower Mainland to commence proactive trafficking operations within the sex trade.

The RCMP in BC has built excellent partnerships with local law enforcement, NGOs and shelters. Specific partnerships include, but are not limited to, the BC Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons, the Vancouver police, Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Canada Border Services Agency, the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and a variety of non-government and religious organizations, including the Salvation Army.

A 24-hour hotline provides all law enforcement immediate access to, and assistance and guidance from, the RCMP human trafficking coordinator in BC during human trafficking investigations.

In terms of enforcement, a team of investigators within the RCMP border integrity program in British Columbia has been identifying potential victims of human trafficking and are actively engaged in human trafficking investigations. This is a permanent team that will remain in place during and after the Olympics. They will continue with their ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, proactively detect it, and monitor any human trafficking related issues within their investigations.

In June 2009 we reported that a threat assessment was under way. This assessment is nearing completion and was conducted to assess the situation in Canada, with a focus on international human trafficking. Its goal is to identify the criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, identify trends, and facilitate the exchange of intelligence among law enforcement. It will also provide law enforcement across Canada with a guide to further direct resources on this issue.

Notable proactive investigations exist throughout the Lower Mainland that have been geared to identifying and rescuing potential victims of human trafficking and that may or may not be directly related to an increase in human trafficking during the Olympics. In January 2009 information was received that a ring of human traffickers were increasing their operations throughout the Lower Mainland. However, it was not necessarily in preparation for the Olympics. The accused in this case will be charged on four separate prostitution-related charges as well as human smuggling.

Like most international human trafficking investigations, victim management proved to be an issue. Several victims returned to their home countries, while others no longer wish to appear in court. Without victims' testimony, charges of human trafficking were unlikely. Therefore, substantive charges of human smuggling, living off the avails of prostitution, keeping a common bawdy house, and procurement have been sought.

In March 2009 investigation commenced into a group of organized human traffickers operating bawdy houses throughout the Lower Mainland. While I'm not able to go into the specifics of this investigation, I can tell you that this investigation has a very specific strategic component set to identify any increase in human trafficking directly related to the Olympics.

There are as well other ongoing human trafficking related--

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Can you wrap it up?

3:50 p.m.

Supt Michel Aubin

Yes, ma'am.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

We've just gone over time, thanks. Just finish up what you have to say. Go ahead.

3:50 p.m.

Supt Michel Aubin

Okay. I'll just go to the conclusion here.

Human trafficking is an insidious crime that the RCMP recognizes the need to address. While there are varied reports on human trafficking in past sporting events--including that of Germany in 2006, where there was no notable increase--the RCMP has taken a proactive, comprehensive approach involving our enforcement partners and border and victim management services. The RCMP will continue to monitor intelligence and follow through with all the measures to prevent, detect, and address any instances of human trafficking.

3:50 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much.

Now Mr. Lamontagne.

3:50 p.m.

Ken Lamontagne Director, Intelligence Risk Assessment and Analysis Division, Enforcement Branch, Canada Border Services Agency

Good afternoon, Madam Chair, honourable members of the committee. Thank you for the opportunity to participate in today's hearing.

My name is Ken Lamontagne. I am director within the Enforcement Branch of the Canada Border Services Agency. I am pleased to be representing the agency today in order to discuss our role in the prevention and interception of human trafficking cases.

CBSA is working to ensure the security of Canadians and foreign visitors. Our goal will be to prevent and intercept human trafficking incidents prior to and during the Olympic Games. Dealing with trafficking in persons falls under our mandate of managing Canada's borders and fighting cross-border crime. We work with overseas partners to prevent the irregular movement of people which may include trafficking in persons.

A multiple borders strategy is used to combat human trafficking both internationally and domestically. Our commitment to fighting human trafficking includes: working with overseas partners to combat irregular migration, which may include human trafficking victims; detecting and intercepting fraudulently obtained travel documents to help prevent the bringing of potential human trafficking victims into Canada; assisting potential victims; providing assistance in the investigation and prosecution of trafficking offenders.

Many partnerships exist within and outside of the CBSA for dealing with human trafficking, such as with Citizenship and Immigration Canada, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, local police agencies and non-government organizations. We work with these key partners to ensure that victims are provided with protection.

As of April 2007, all new border services officers undergo a “People at Risk“ workshop as part of their port of entry recruit training course, which will assist them in dealing with vulnerable persons including human trafficking victims and missing children. Currently 1,550 border services officers have participated in this workshop.

As of May 2009, field immigration training program participants, which includes inland enforcement officers, also undergo this workshop. Currently, 55 officers have participated in this program.

Migration integrity officers receive extensive specialized training in the following areas, which will assist them in preventing or intercepting human trafficking cases: passport and document fraud, intelligence collection and reporting, identifying inadmissible persons and threats to national security, and detecting migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

The Pacific region recently rolled out human trafficking awareness sessions in the summer of 2009. Currently, 26 human trafficking awareness sessions have been delivered to approximately 248 border services officers at Vancouver international Airport, Douglas, Pacific Highway, Aldergrove, Huntingdon, and Prince Rupert. A CBSA subject matter expert provided a presentation at the Royal Canadian Mounted Police national human trafficking workshops. From 2008 to the present, CBSA officers have participated in these RCMP workshops in 17 Canadian cities.

Our Olympic preparations commenced over two years ago. Our Olympic and Paralympic task force was created in October 2008 to respond to and anticipate operational issues at the Olympics.

Information gathered does not indicate an increase in human trafficking at the Olympics. Regardless, measures are in place to ensure that we are prepared.

To protect the integrity and security of our Canadian border, the CBSA, in collaboration with security partners, uses a variety of risk assessment tools and programs. The advance passenger information program and the integrated primary inspection line are examples of programs at our disposal that are used to screen persons seeking admission to Canada. Participants in the Olympics and their family members will be required to participate in the accreditation program.

We participate in the Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons as well as the working group on trafficking in persons and the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. The Olympic and Paralympic task force has allocated additional funding to the migration integrity officer program to enhance prevention efforts with regard to trafficking in persons. The RCMP's posters on trafficking in persons were distributed to the MIOs in November 2009 in an effort to raise awareness overseas.

The CBSA national human trafficking network, comprising regional intelligence officers, participates in monthly conference calls to share information and build expertise across Canada. RCMP tool kits were distributed to members of this network in an effort to raise awareness across Canada.

The CBSA published a policies and procedures manual on human trafficking in February 2009. The manual is available to all CBSA officers.

In September 2009 the CBSA published human trafficking information sheets for the public that also describe CBSA's role in fighting human trafficking and provide contact information.

In November 2009 CBSA met with the Canada Fights Human Trafficking organization to discuss potential collaborative opportunities. A future prospect for the CBSA will be to cooperate with this organization as an important contact in the protection and support of potential victims.

Finally, the CBSA has increased its operational capacity to perform activities and impact the ports of entry in the Pacific region. Additional resources have been allocated to Vancouver marine operations in order to increase vessel rummages and crew/passenger verifications prior to and during the Olympics. The increased presence of intelligence officers in the Pacific region will expand our intelligence capacity. Approximately 100 border security officers will be reallocated to impact the Pacific region, and additional staff will be placed at Pearson International Airport in Toronto.

In conclusion, the risk of human trafficking will be mitigated by CBSA's increased vigilance. CBSA remains committed to preventing irregular migration, which includes trafficking in persons, at its source. The CBSA will work to detect and intercept fraudulent travel documents to prevent the transportation of human trafficking victims to Canada. The CBSA will adopt a victim-centred approach when dealing with potential victims and work with its partners to ensure that victims are provided with the necessary referrals and assistance.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much, Monsieur Lamontagne.

Mr. Desautels.

4 p.m.

Paul Desautels Director, Operational Management Coordination, Temporary Resident Program Delivery, Department of Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Thank you, Madam Chair.

My name is Paul Desautels. I'm the director of the temporary resident program delivery unit in the operations sector at Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

I want to thank the committee for inviting the department back to discuss our contribution to combatting human trafficking. The department's associate assistant deputy minister appeared before the committee in June.

In combatting this crime, I know there continues to be a considerable focus on the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, along with the challenges they present. Through intelligence gathering, Citizenship and Immigration Canada is continuing to work with many partners, including colleagues at the RCMP, the Canada Border Services Agency, and other law enforcement agencies, to combat human trafficking, raise awareness of this crime, and prosecute the offenders.

The government is also supporting Bill S-223, a Senate private member's bill, which the committee on human rights is recommending to the Senate after incorporating several government amendments to the bill. The bill aims to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, IRPA, to provide assistance and protection to victims of human trafficking.

Our main role is to ensure that victims receive appropriate consideration for immigration status as individual circumstances warrant. In May 2006, in response to the unique needs of victims, the government introduced guidelines that would allow temporary resident permits to be issued to them. These guidelines are supported by ministerial instructions and public policy and have the force of law, but they also offer the flexibility required for the government to make improvements in response to this complex issue.

A fee-exempt, short-term temporary resident permit is issued for 180 days to further protect and assist victims and is offered in conjunction with a fee-exempt work permit. This allows the victim a chance to escape from the influence of the trafficker, and the opportunity to begin to recover from their ordeal, with assistance, including health care benefits and trauma counselling through the interim federal health program. Victims do not have to testify against their traffickers or participate in investigations in order to receive this permit. It also gives them time to reflect on what they want to do next, whether they seek to remain in Canada or return to their home country. They may also consider participating in an investigation or prosecution if they so choose.

Longer-term temporary resident permits can also be issued for up to three years where individual circumstances warrant. Victims may also apply for permanent residence under IRPA through, for example, the permit holder class, an application for humanitarian and compassionate consideration, or the refugee determination process.

Between May 2006 and December 2008, 44 individuals have been referred to CIC for consideration of a temporary resident permit as victims of human trafficking. Twenty-eight permits have been issued to 18 individuals. This figure includes extensions to the same victim in order to maintain legal status in Canada.

CIC's commitment to protecting victims of human trafficking remains consistent regardless of the reason they arrived in Canada or the manner in which they arrived, including in relation to the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games. We are continuing our education of temporary foreign workers and other visitors on how to avoid exploitation. CIC has also ensured that posters about human trafficking have been placed in a number of our overseas missions in order to alert to clients to this issue. These posters are viewed by the clients when submitting applications.

Along with Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Province of British Columbia, we continue to engage in outreach to the hospitality and construction industries, as well as other employers, to raise awareness of their responsibilities to ensure that foreign workers are protected against exploitation.

My department, through our network of regional offices, is continuing its ongoing contact with first responders, such as health care, social services, settlement agencies, and shelters in British Columbia, in regard to temporary resident permits that are available for victims of human trafficking.

CIC recognizes that this is a serious problem. We are committed to working closely with our partners in a concerted effort to raise awareness and actively support victims of this crime.

Thank you.

4 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Hedy Fry

Thank you very much.

Colleagues, I think we will only have one round, because otherwise we won't be able to complete them. You will have seven minutes and you may decide to divide them, if you choose.

I will start with Ms. Neville.

4 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll share my time with my colleague.

Let me thank all of you for being here yet again and for updating the committee. It's certainly helpful. The strategy that you've put forward is certainly a comprehensive one.

I have two questions that I want to get on the record. My colleague will have others.

There's a lot of focus on the international trafficking of women and/or children. I'm interested in knowing what kinds of intelligence and what kinds of efforts you're putting forward as they relate to internal trafficking within Canada of women and children.

My other question is to the Vancouver Police Department. We have been hearing, both through the press and through individuals we are speaking to in the B.C. area—and I have an e-mail from someone right now—that there's a lack of responsiveness on the part of the Vancouver Police Department to some of the issues relating to the trafficking of individuals. I don't know whether it's a lack of resources or what it is. What I'm hearing is that there's an unwillingness to arrest the johns, the pimps, and owners; in return, they arrest fewer women. There's just not a lot of activity by the police department.

Could you respond on those two and then leave some time for my colleague, please?

4:05 p.m.

Supt Michel Aubin

Maybe I can address the first question.

From a law enforcement perspective, on your question in relation to international and domestic, we do not differentiate between the two of them. From a law enforcement perspective, whether it's enforcement or intelligence-gathering, we look at both of them regardless. It's whether the victim is from Canada or from abroad. Victim management services may also address some issues in terms of investigations. But how we go about it, in the first instance, is that we don't look at one or the other.

4:05 p.m.

Liberal

Anita Neville Liberal Winnipeg South Centre, MB

Do you have the same intelligence capacity internally in Canada as you appear to have for international trafficking?

4:05 p.m.

Supt Michel Aubin

We tap into both. When I'm looking at the threat assessment that has just been produced and it's almost ready to be signed off, we look at both domestic and international. The issue is that the victims may be domestic or the victims may be from abroad. So we look at it from a holistic perspective. It's the crime, it's not where the victims are from.