Supporting Human Trafficking Victims and Survivors
Ensuring young women and children can access the services they need when they need them
Our PC government is committed to putting an end to human trafficking and to supporting victims and survivors of this heinous crime. That’s why we were pleased to announce today that frontline victim service organizations across Ontario will receive $7.65 million in new funding to ensure victims and survivors of human trafficking can access the services they need to rebuild their lives.
“Through our government’s anti-human trafficking strategy, we are helping young women and children escape a living nightmare and rebuild their lives,” said Doug Ford, MPP for Etobicoke North and Premier of Ontario. “We will continue to work with police to give them the tools and resources they need to go after the thugs responsible for this disgusting crime and put them behind bars where they belong.”
This funding will support:
- The Victim Quick Response Program+, to help human trafficking victims and survivors cover essential expenses, such as accommodation, meals, transportation, dental care, mobile phones and tattoo removal;
- Enhanced services under Victim Crisis Assistance Ontario, to enable frontline staff in addressing immediate and local needs of human trafficking victims and survivors, including early intervention; and,
- The Vulnerable Victims and Family Fund, to cover key court-related expenses for human trafficking victims and survivors.
We are partnering with frontline victim service providers, police, and prosecutors to comprehensively respond to the shocking growth of these crimes. This investment strengthens our partnerships with frontline victim services to ensure victims and survivors have the support they need while we work to combat human trafficking, hold offenders accountable and end this heinous crime.
The funding announced today is part of the government’s anti-human trafficking strategy released in March, which includes a $307 million investment over five years.