(Your Alberta/ YouTube)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Province accepts final report of human trafficking task force

Mar 27, 2022 | 5:10 PM

EDMONTON, AB– The province announced Sunday that they have accepted the final report of the Alberta Human Trafficking task force meant to put a stop to exploitation and
to protect vulnerable citizens.

In 2019 alone, the province said police reported 511 human trafficking incidents across Canada, with 31 in Alberta.

“This modern form of slavery, of human trafficking is a terrible scourge in our society,” premier Jason Kenney said.

“The reality is this horrific practice continues almost unabated not just in far flung corners of the world but right here in Canada and right here in Alberta, ” Kenney added

The report includes five recommendations which include the following:

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat's Mustard Seed adding new shelter spaces at Alberta government's request

4h ago

HOLIDAYS

Medicine Hat Kiwanis hosting Christmas dinner, applications due Friday

6h ago

IN THE COMMUNITY

'Compassionate Friends' offer peer support for bereaved in Medicine Hat

21h ago

1. Creation of an Alberta office to combat trafficking in persons
2. Prioritized/enhanced access to services for victims, survivors and those at risk of being trafficked
3. Universally branded and consistent awareness, education and training programs and protocols
4. Human trafficking specific legislative action, update and harmonization
5. Enhanced, centralized data collection and research

Within the five recommendations are 19 calls to action. The province said they have accepted nearly all of the calls to action and are moving foward on several initiatives such as the creation of an Office for Combatting Human Trafficking .

“Through the work of the task force, we heard powerful stories from survivors. We heard how being sexually exploited and trafficked is like dying inside, and how hard it is to piece yourself back together to be reborn. There are horrible crimes in the world, but human trafficking has to be the worst. Today, and moving forward, we will make a difference for survivors and those being trafficked – whether it’s human trafficking, labour trafficking or organ trafficking. What an unbelievable gift to them,” stated Heather Forsyth, member of the Human Trafficking Task Force.

The task force began back in 2020 and was led by country music star and ending human trafficking advocate Paul Brandt. The task force came after the province announced the Protecting Survivors of Human Trafficking Act. The act allows survivors to sue traffickers and makes it easier for victims to get protection orders.

Over 100 experts and survivors contributed to the task -force report, according to the province.

The Alberta government has also introduced an e-learning course for police, and community victim services units. The province said training is also being made available for judges and prosecutors.