Sarah Cestnick, Founder of The Omega Project
February 28, 2025
Human trafficking is not just a problem overseas—it’s happening right here in Canada. From big cities like Toronto and Vancouver to small towns across the country, traffickers are exploiting vulnerable people, particularly young women, Indigenous people, and newcomers. The Canadian government has put forward a National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, which is a much-needed step in the right direction. But the question remains: Is it enough?
Breaking Down the Strategy
At its core, the National Strategy is built on five pillars:
Empowerment – Giving victims and survivors the support they need to rebuild their lives.
Prevention – Raising awareness and addressing vulnerabilities before trafficking happens.
Protection – Strengthening services to help victims safely exit trafficking situations.
Prosecution – Holding traffickers accountable through stronger legal action.
Partnerships – Working with provinces, territories, and organizations to expand impact.
The government is backing this strategy with $57.22 million over five years, plus $10.28 million annually for ongoing efforts. While funding is crucial, the real question is how effectively these resources will be used.
What’s Working?
The focus on prevention and victim support is a welcome shift. Human trafficking survivors often face long-term trauma, financial instability, and legal hurdles, so an emphasis on empowerment is critical. The government’s commitment to raising awareness and improving protections for at-risk communities is another positive step, especially for Indigenous women and youth who are disproportionately targeted.
Additionally, the creation of the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline in 2019 has provided a much-needed direct line for victims and concerned individuals to seek help. Having a national response center means victims don’t have to navigate a fragmented system alone.
What’s Missing?
Despite its strengths, the strategy still falls short in a few key areas:
Survivor-Led Solutions – While the plan emphasizes victim support, are survivors being given a voice in shaping policies? Survivors have firsthand experience with the failures of the system—yet, they often have little say in how prevention and protection efforts are designed.
Addressing Online Exploitation – The strategy acknowledges the rise of online trafficking, but does it go far enough? With traffickers using social media, gaming platforms, and encrypted apps to lure victims, stronger regulations and tech industry partnerships are needed to curb online recruitment.
Accountability in Law Enforcement – Canada has strict trafficking laws, but convictions remain rare. Many cases fall apart due to lack of evidence, survivor reluctance to testify, or legal loopholes traffickers exploit. The justice system must do better in supporting survivors so they feel safe enough to pursue charges without fear of retaliation.
Stronger Provincial Coordination – Trafficking doesn’t stop at provincial borders, yet many anti-trafficking initiatives vary by region. Survivors often find themselves lost between jurisdictions, unsure of where to turn. A more unified, nationwide approach would create consistent resources, policies, and protections across provinces and territories.
The Bottom Line
The National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking is a much-needed update to Canada’s approach, and it sends a strong message that human trafficking will not be tolerated. But there’s still work to be done. If Canada truly wants to lead the fight against trafficking, we need:
More survivor leadership in policy-making.
Tighter regulations on online recruitment to stop traffickers before they act.
Better legal protections to ensure survivors can testify safely.
Stronger national coordination so victims don’t fall through the cracks.
Funding is a start, but money alone won’t fix the problem. A true solution requires continuous action, survivor voices at the table, and real accountability at every level.
Want to learn more or take action? Read the full government plan here. If you suspect trafficking or need help, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.
Commentaires