Justin Trudeau is failing to act on behalf of the victims of human trafficking

March 15, 2018
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Ottawa, Ontario – Conservative Shadow Minister for Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness, Pierre Paul-Hus and Conservative Shadow Minister for Justice, the Honourable Rob Nicholson along with the Honourable Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu today denounced the hypocrisy and lack of support by Justin Trudeau for women and children who are victims of human trafficking.

“Bill C-452 was unanimously passed by Parliament in 2013 and received Royal Assent in June 2015. Among other things, this law aims to reverse the burden of proof from the victim to the pimps, requires human traffickers to forfeit the proceeds of their crimes, and provides for consecutive sentences for pimps. Justin Trudeau must act now and sign the order to implement this law”, said Paul-Hus.

Conservatives are encouraged by the motion on child prostitution and sexual exploitation that was passed in the Quebec National Assembly yesterday. This motion also asks that Prime Minister Trudeau act on this file.

However, Conservatives are worried that the Liberals seem more concerned about the rights of criminals than the rights of victims. “The Liberals tabled Bill C-38 and they claim it’s a bill similar to Bill C-452. But the Liberal Bill does not include measures on consecutive sentences. Without these tools it’s difficult to protect victims and encourage them to testify against human traffickers. Make no mistake, Bill C-38 will weaken Canada’s human trafficking laws and result in lighter sentences for those who profit from the modern day slave trade”, said Nicholson.

For his part, Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu has been working on this issue for several years now. “While the Liberal government of Justin Trudeau refuses to sign the order to enact Bill C-452, the Prime Minister simultaneously pushes Bill C-38, a watered down version of Bill C-452. Victims of crime and their families have been waiting for years, both in Quebec and across Canada, for a government dedicated to protecting victims of human trafficking. Unfortunately, Prime Minister Trudeau does not seem to understand the urgent need to implement the Bill C-452 now”, added Senator Boivenu.

-30-

For more information, please contact:

Office of Pierre Paul-Hus, MP
Pierre.Paul-Hus@parl.gc.ca
613-995-8857

Office of the Hon. Rob Nicholson, MP
Rob.Nicholson@parl.gc.ca
613-995-1547

Office of the Honourable Senator Pierre-Hughes Boisvenu
pierre-hugues.boisvenu@sen.parl.gc.ca
613-943-4030