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.