Alberta announces $20.8M to fight human trafficking
Alberta is committing $20.8 million over the next four years to fight human trafficking.
The funding will be used to implement the Alberta Human Trafficking Task Force’s five recomendations to stop the exploitation of victims at the hands of traffickers.
“Too often we think of human trafficking as something that happens in the developing world, places different from here,” said Premier Jason Kenney. “The reality is that this scourge of modern slavery happens right here in our own backyard.”
Specifically, the funding will be used to:
- Create an Office to Combat Trafficking Persons and a centre of excellence for research and data collection.
- Create a grant for coordinated community support and Indigenous-led, culturally appropriate services.
- Create civilian positions through the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams to support victims and survivors of human trafficking through the investigation process.
- Implement other task force recommendations.
“Today’s announcement from the Government of Alberta comes at a time when human trafficking is now one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada,” said taskforce chair Paul Brandt. “From the standpoint of prevention and for survivors, this $20.8 million and the acceptance of these Alberta taskforce recommendations come not a moment too soon.”
According to the government, police services in Canada reported 2,977 incidents of human trafficking between 2010 and 2020.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.