Mr. Speaker, in response to (a),the federal Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, IWGTIP, was formally mandated in early 2004 to coordinate all federal efforts to combat trafficking in persons. Prior to that time, the IWGTIP was an informal group of a few federal departments that focused primarily upon supporting the development of Canada’s negotiating position for the United Nations’ Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children, under the Convention Against Transnational Crime and its subsequent implementation upon Canadian ratification. The IWGTIP last met on May 12, 2010.
In response to (b), the frequency of IWGTIP meetings has varied over the years, rangingfrom as often as monthly to the current approach of meeting at least quarterly, depending upon the nature and timing of activities being addressed by the IWGTIP. As well, informal subgroups of the IWGTIP may meet periodically, as and when required, to support IWGTIP efforts including, for example, to facilitate Canadian participation in the Forum to Fight Human Trafficking, held in February 2008 as part of the United Nations’ Global Initiative to Fight Trafficking, “UN.GIFT”.
In response to (c), the specifics of the agenda for IWGTIP meetings vary, depending on the current activities combatting human trafficking. However, at their core, discussions are focused on the key pillars of the IWGTIP’s mandate: the prevention of trafficking, e.g., the status of current public education/awareness initiatives; the protection of victims; the prosecution of offenders; and, more generally, to provide a vehicle for supporting the Government of Canada’s ability to respond to trafficking in persons both domestically and abroad, and in conjunction with relevant partners. Toward this end, discussions generally revolve around current/completed or forthcoming federal activities, e.g., status updates on related parliamentary business; federal professional training and public awareness activities; federal input to or participation in domestic or international initiatives, member Departments updating the group on their new/ongoing/forthcoming anti-trafficking initiatives, and updates on initiatives/conferences/developments at the domestic and international levels. Many of these activities are noted on the government’s Trafficking In Persons website http://canada.justice.gc.ca/eng/fs-sv/tp. Over the years, there have also been periodic opportunities for non-federal governmental groups to meet with the IWGTIP to mutually exchange/update each other on respective anti-trafficking efforts.
In response to (d), the IWGTIP does not have a budget. Its operation is supported by participating departments through their existing departmental budgets and operations.
In response to (e), the IWGTIP is currently chaired by the Department of Justice Canada and Public Safety Canada. Its current composition largely reflects its composition since 2004:
Canada Border Services Agency(CBSA)
Canadian Heritage (CH)
Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)
Criminal Intelligence Service Canada (CISC)
Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
Department of Justice Canada (JUS)
Department of National Defence (DND)
Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT)
Health Canada (HC) / Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC)
Passport Office
Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC)
Public Safety Canada (PS)
Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP)
Statistics Canada
Status of Women Canada (SWC)