Thank you, Madam Chair.
I thank the witnesses for being here for such an important study on human trafficking.
I have long wanted to address this issue in committee, as a member of the All-Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking. This year, on February 22, we marked the third annual National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
As most witnesses indicated in their opening remarks, we realize our lack of knowledge and training on this issue and the need to raise awareness. People think that human trafficking is something that takes place outside our borders, but we see that most of the victims are actually Canadian. It happens within our borders. This shows the glaring lack of education and knowledge of the population on this subject.
I will address you first, Mr. Anson, but I invite other witnesses to weigh in.
In 2005, Canada passed a bill banning human trafficking, but traffickers continue to get rich by exploiting people everywhere. Between 2009 and 2018, police departments across the country reported 1,708 cases related to human trafficking. However, as you said, this data likely represents only those cases that have received a police response. Rather, testimony from people who have experienced trafficking and from social service providers suggests to us that the actual number of victims and survivors is much higher.
Do you have more recent data regarding cases related to human trafficking? You said it was difficult to get numbers, but can you give us a more current picture of the situation?
I'll address you first, Mr. Anson, but I invite other witnesses to weigh in so that we have a more current picture.