Status of Women Committee on Dec. 8th, 2009

[Paul Desautels]

I respect that, but generally speaking we report on our numbers from the previous year. So we will be reporting on 2009 in January and February of next year.

But on the number of referrals, I'm not sure that necessarily means we're not ready, because referrals stay the same as of 2008. We see that happening in 2009 as well.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. MacKillop and Mr. Aubin, can you answer as well?

[Barry MacKillop]

On what we discussed in June, we certainly elaborated on the strategies and the components of the strategies we would be putting into place, and the ones we had put in place to date. We have since elaborated on those strategies and advanced the components. We still believe we are addressing the components, the four pillars.

We've enhanced our awareness activity that speaks to prevention. Our partnership with Crime Stoppers, public awareness, and the roles of NGOs in Vancouver and elsewhere have been significantly stepped up since June. There is not a different name; it's still a component of the strategy. But a lot of work has been done. The number of law enforcement officers, the number of--

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Mr. MacKillop, you said that the board of directors of the Canadian Crime Stoppers Association has been trained to provide information sessions in communities. How many sessions have been held and in how many communities?

[Barry MacKillop]

The training sessions have just begun. I do not believe that there have been more than one or two at the moment, but they are mostly being held in Vancouver.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

So, the board has not been trained yet, but it is being trained now.

[Barry MacKillop]

It has been trained. The board is now going to train others. So the board has already been trained. I can share a draft with you, but I would ask you to return it to me at the end. This is a draft of their ”Blue Blindfold“ campaign. It will give you an idea. I can pass it round.

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Is the draft in both languages, Mr. MacKillop? if not, it cannot be circulated.

[Barry MacKillop]

The draft will be finalized, translated and distributed in a month. It was produced by Crime Stoppers. That is why it has not been translated yet, but we are working with them on the translation.

The main points of the strategy have been put forward. Many more people have been trained. In January, there will be training sessions for crown prosecutors. Forty or fifty crown prosecutors will receive the training. It not only deals with human trafficking internationally, but also nationally. You will see in the awareness campaigns that no distinction is made between national and international levels of human trafficking.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Madame Demers, you're probably sharing your time with—

[Nicole Demers, Bloc, Laval, QC]

Yes, Madam Chair.

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

Mr. Desnoyers, you have a minute and a half.

[Luc Desnoyers, Bloc, Rivière-des-Mille-Îles, QC]

My question goes to Mr. Aubin and Mr. Usui.

Mr. Usui, it seems that you do not have sufficient resources or staff. Can you tell me how many of these trafficking or exploitation cases you have on record?

I will ask Mr. Aubin the same question. Like my colleague, I have the “blues“ in front of me. Your last report said very much the same thing. Clearly, something is happening as the Olympics get closer. There was the case in Calgary were two women were sold to police officers. It was in the papers. Perhaps it is the tip of the iceberg.

So, with everything you have put in place, how many cases in Vancouver have you dealt with, and how many cases have you dealt with since June?

[Bob Usui]

Yes, sir, I'll address that.

I don't have the numbers for the whole year, but just the ones we've concluded this year. To date we've had five bawdy house investigations, with a number of people charged. As a matter of fact, last week we worked with IBET, which is the RCMP, in a joint investigation. It turned out they have a separate one, but it dovetailed into ours. And it was a bawdy house. As well, we arrested a fellow who was wanted Canada-wide. There were three children in this bawdy house, which was really a concern to us, and we wanted to address that quickly, so we did. It still took us a couple of weeks, with surveillance and some undercover work.

As I said, I'm not sure how many there were throughout the year, because there are so many bawdy houses and massage parlours operating in the city of Vancouver that they're too numerous to count, sir.

[Supt Michel Aubin]

Speaking for the RCMP, Mr. Desnoyers...

[The Chair, Liberal, Hedy Fry]

I'm sorry, Monsieur Aubin. I'm going to let you try that later, if we have some time, but we've got to move on now.

Ms. McLeod.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Thank you, Madam Chair. I will be sharing my time with Ms. Hoeppner.

I have a couple of what I think will be relatively quick questions.

You talked about a tool kit, and I'm wondering what's in it. That is my first question.

[Sergeant Marie-Claude Arsenault, Non-Commissioned Officer, Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, Royal Canadian Mounted Police]

I'll answer that question and also let you know that we have samples here.

We have two tool kits, one for law enforcement and one for NGOs. They essentially include posters for the public or for victims in six different languages; pamphlets; law enforcement or police officer handbook; fact sheets; questions and answers in relation to human trafficking; and a training video on human trafficking and different types of trafficking: domestic, international, forced labour, sexual exploitation. So it's all information to provide law enforcement with indicators of how to recognize victims of human trafficking and so on.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Is this sent out or is it on request? Are you proactively sending it?

[Sgt Marie-Claude Arsenault]

As previously mentioned, it has been sent to approximately 3,000 law enforcement officers across the country. It's distributed during our workshops, upon request. So it has been distributed in large numbers.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

There was also some talk about a hotline. Is that in operation now, or will that be over the Olympic period? What is the hotline again?

[Sgt Marie-Claude Arsenault]

The hotline actually has been in operation for quite a while. It's not necessarily just for the Olympics. Also, I forgot to mention that the number is included in the tool kits. It's on a pocket card for law enforcement officers. It includes some indicators as to how to recognize victims of human trafficking, and it has the phone number for the 24-hour hotline that goes directly to our human trafficking coordinators in British Columbia.

[Cathy McLeod, Conservative, Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC]

Okay, so that's 24/7, then. That's great.

[Sgt Marie-Claude Arsenault]

Yes.

[Barry MacKillop]

I would just add, as well, that the Crime Stoppers 1-800 number is also being used and is being promoted as a tip line for suspected cases of human trafficking, which complements the RCMP hotline.