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.