Justice committee  The minister alluded to the fact that other offences of general application would remain available to address the conduct captured by section 49. We're aware that it's been charged once. It was part of Canada's first Criminal Code in 1892. There has been one charge under it, and

Justice committee  It depends on the conduct of the specific case that's being considered. The historical origins of the offence are based on an individual who pointed a firearm at a monarch. That led to the enactment of the particular offence. If that were to happen in Canada today we would have a

Justice committee  I think it's limited to Her Majesty.

Justice committee  I'll do my best to tell you what I understand. If I understand what you're proposing in terms of paragraph (a), it would be to add “a religious or spiritual official from celebrating a religious or spiritual service”. Then, I think, you would have to make a similar amendment on t

Justice committee  You'll carry that through. Then, as you've said, you'd make the same change in paragraph (b). Amendment CPC-2 also talks about, in proposed subsection 176(2), wilfully disturbing or interrupting a “religious service”. I'll point that out. You follow that all the way through.

Justice committee  It would appear to address the issues raised in both of the amendments. As for one formulation over another, I think that's ultimately for you to decide. The fact that you speak of an “officiant” who is performing a religious service, I think provides the context that is helpfu

Justice committee  Thank you.

Justice committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. I thought it might be helpful to the committee for me to provide information for you on two separate things: first, the legislative history of Canada's criminal laws on human trafficking, and second, some background information on the types of programs that

Justice committee  Thanks for the question. It's a good one. I think someone alluded to this earlier. In the years following the enactment of the Criminal Code offences on human trafficking, there was a certain period of time during which implementation was required, so you weren't seeing charges

Justice committee  I can provide the information to the committee. I didn't bring any with me today. I do know there is a broad range, from no imprisonment to significant periods of imprisonment. I wouldn't want to give you a specific number. We know there are a lot of guilty pleas for human traffi

Justice committee  There are some that the department is tracking in respect of the mandatory minimum penalty for child trafficking. I don't believe there has been an outcome in any specific case yet involving a constitutional challenge to the mandatory minimums.

Justice committee  You're correct that the amendments that were passed through Bill C-452 by Parliament are not yet in force. Bill C-38, which was introduced by the government, is in the House of Commons currently. It proposes to amend the coming into force clause of Bill C-452 for the reasons you

Justice committee  Correct. None of that is in force.

Justice committee  I do think there's still a divergence in the way in which organizations, countries, and institutions define human trafficking, and that starts from the definition of “trafficking in persons” in the UN protocol. It's a broad definition. It provides flexibility for different countr

Justice committee  There is, certainly through the efforts of the human trafficking task force, an ongoing effort to try to ensure that we're consistent as a federal government in collecting information on human trafficking. But if you think about, for example, our colleagues at IRCC, they will col