FOI REVEALS HUMAN TRAFFICKING NOT A PRIORITY FOR LIBERALS
QUEEN’S PARK – Today during Question Period, PC Critic for Women’s Issues, MPP Laurie Scott, criticized the Liberal Government for underinvesting in efforts to combat human trafficking.
In 2011, the government committed $1.95 million over three years to combat human trafficking. A Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealed that the Ministry of the Attorney General only invested $190,997 to support community agencies specifically for victims of human trafficking.
In the same year, Manitoba invested $8 million in its anti-trafficking programs. Given that the Select Committee has found Ontario serves as a major hub for human trafficking in Canada, and Ontario’s population ten times that of Manitoba, it’s clear that additional investment is required to effectively combat this crime.
“I am disappointed that human trafficking is not at the forefront of this government’s priorities,” said Scott. “It is shameful that the government barely invested $200,000 – which is less than what a trafficker can profit from just one victim in a year.”
As the government’s human trafficking strategy is set to be released later this month, Scott is disappointed that the 2016 Budget did not include any new money for such efforts.
Scott added that human trafficking is one of the largest growing crimes in Ontario – more profitable than guns or drugs. This crime preys on victims that are predominantly girls averaging 14 years old.
“The girls next door sadly are reusable commodities and make no mistake, they are brutalized over and over,” said Scott. “How much longer will our girls continue to be abandoned by this government?”
VIDEO: https://youtu.be/sUbSV6f3c_c