

Currently released so far... 12404 / 251,287
Browse latest releases
2010/12/01
2010/12/02
2010/12/03
2010/12/04
2010/12/05
2010/12/06
2010/12/07
2010/12/08
2010/12/09
2010/12/10
2010/12/11
2010/12/12
2010/12/13
2010/12/14
2010/12/15
2010/12/16
2010/12/17
2010/12/18
2010/12/19
2010/12/20
2010/12/21
2010/12/22
2010/12/23
2010/12/24
2010/12/25
2010/12/26
2010/12/27
2010/12/28
2010/12/29
2010/12/30
2011/01/01
2011/01/02
2011/01/04
2011/01/05
2011/01/07
2011/01/09
2011/01/10
2011/01/11
2011/01/12
2011/01/13
2011/01/14
2011/01/15
2011/01/16
2011/01/17
2011/01/18
2011/01/19
2011/01/20
2011/01/21
2011/01/22
2011/01/23
2011/01/24
2011/01/25
2011/01/26
2011/01/27
2011/01/28
2011/01/29
2011/01/30
2011/01/31
2011/02/01
2011/02/02
2011/02/03
2011/02/04
2011/02/05
2011/02/06
2011/02/07
2011/02/08
2011/02/09
2011/02/10
2011/02/11
2011/02/12
2011/02/13
2011/02/14
2011/02/15
2011/02/16
2011/02/17
2011/02/18
2011/02/19
2011/02/20
2011/02/21
2011/02/22
2011/02/23
2011/02/24
2011/02/25
2011/02/26
2011/02/27
2011/02/28
2011/03/01
2011/03/02
2011/03/03
2011/03/04
2011/03/05
2011/03/06
2011/03/07
2011/03/08
2011/03/09
2011/03/10
2011/03/11
2011/03/13
2011/03/14
2011/03/15
2011/03/16
2011/03/17
2011/03/18
2011/03/19
2011/03/20
2011/03/21
2011/03/22
2011/03/23
2011/03/24
2011/03/25
2011/03/26
2011/03/27
2011/03/28
2011/03/29
2011/03/30
2011/03/31
2011/04/01
2011/04/02
2011/04/03
2011/04/04
2011/04/05
2011/04/06
2011/04/07
2011/04/08
2011/04/09
2011/04/10
2011/04/11
2011/04/12
2011/04/13
2011/04/14
2011/04/15
2011/04/16
2011/04/17
2011/04/18
2011/04/19
2011/04/20
2011/04/21
2011/04/22
2011/04/23
2011/04/24
2011/04/25
2011/04/26
2011/04/27
2011/04/28
2011/04/29
2011/04/30
Browse by creation date
Browse by origin
Embassy Athens
Embassy Asuncion
Embassy Astana
Embassy Asmara
Embassy Ashgabat
Embassy Apia
Embassy Ankara
Embassy Amman
Embassy Algiers
Embassy Addis Ababa
Embassy Accra
Embassy Abuja
Embassy Abu Dhabi
Embassy Abidjan
Consulate Auckland
Consulate Amsterdam
Consulate Adana
American Institute Taiwan, Taipei
Embassy Bujumbura
Embassy Buenos Aires
Embassy Budapest
Embassy Bucharest
Embassy Brussels
Embassy Bridgetown
Embassy Bratislava
Embassy Brasilia
Embassy Bogota
Embassy Bishkek
Embassy Bern
Embassy Berlin
Embassy Belmopan
Embassy Belgrade
Embassy Beirut
Embassy Beijing
Embassy Banjul
Embassy Bangkok
Embassy Bandar Seri Begawan
Embassy Bamako
Embassy Baku
Embassy Baghdad
Consulate Barcelona
Embassy Copenhagen
Embassy Conakry
Embassy Colombo
Embassy Chisinau
Embassy Caracas
Embassy Canberra
Embassy Cairo
Consulate Curacao
Consulate Ciudad Juarez
Consulate Chennai
Consulate Casablanca
Consulate Cape Town
Consulate Calgary
Embassy Dushanbe
Embassy Dublin
Embassy Doha
Embassy Djibouti
Embassy Dili
Embassy Dhaka
Embassy Dar Es Salaam
Embassy Damascus
Embassy Dakar
Consulate Dubai
Embassy Helsinki
Embassy Harare
Embassy Hanoi
Consulate Ho Chi Minh City
Consulate Hermosillo
Consulate Hamilton
Consulate Hamburg
Consulate Halifax
Embassy Kyiv
Embassy Kuwait
Embassy Kuala Lumpur
Embassy Kinshasa
Embassy Kingston
Embassy Kigali
Embassy Khartoum
Embassy Kathmandu
Embassy Kampala
Embassy Kabul
Consulate Kolkata
Embassy Luxembourg
Embassy Luanda
Embassy London
Embassy Ljubljana
Embassy Lisbon
Embassy Lima
Embassy Lilongwe
Embassy La Paz
Consulate Lahore
Consulate Lagos
Mission USOSCE
Mission USNATO
Mission UNESCO
Embassy Muscat
Embassy Moscow
Embassy Montevideo
Embassy Monrovia
Embassy Minsk
Embassy Mexico
Embassy Mbabane
Embassy Maputo
Embassy Manila
Embassy Manama
Embassy Managua
Embassy Malabo
Embassy Madrid
Consulate Munich
Consulate Mumbai
Consulate Montreal
Consulate Monterrey
Consulate Milan
Consulate Melbourne
Embassy Nicosia
Embassy New Delhi
Embassy Ndjamena
Embassy Nassau
Embassy Nairobi
Consulate Naples
Consulate Naha
Embassy Pristina
Embassy Pretoria
Embassy Prague
Embassy Port Of Spain
Embassy Port Louis
Embassy Port Au Prince
Embassy Phnom Penh
Embassy Paris
Embassy Paramaribo
Embassy Panama
Consulate Peshawar
REO Basrah
Embassy Rome
Embassy Riyadh
Embassy Riga
Embassy Reykjavik
Embassy Rangoon
Embassy Rabat
Consulate Rio De Janeiro
Consulate Recife
Secretary of State
Embassy Suva
Embassy Stockholm
Embassy Sofia
Embassy Skopje
Embassy Singapore
Embassy Seoul
Embassy Sarajevo
Embassy Santo Domingo
Embassy Santiago
Embassy Sanaa
Embassy San Salvador
Embassy San Jose
Consulate Strasbourg
Consulate St Petersburg
Consulate Shenyang
Consulate Shanghai
Consulate Sao Paulo
Embassy Tunis
Embassy Tripoli
Embassy Tokyo
Embassy The Hague
Embassy Tel Aviv
Embassy Tehran
Embassy Tegucigalpa
Embassy Tbilisi
Embassy Tashkent
Embassy Tallinn
Consulate Toronto
Consulate Tijuana
USUN New York
USEU Brussels
US Office Almaty
US Mission Geneva
US Interests Section Havana
US Delegation, Secretary
UNVIE
Embassy Ulaanbaatar
Embassy Vilnius
Embassy Vienna
Embassy Vatican
Embassy Valletta
Consulate Vladivostok
Consulate Vancouver
Browse by tag
ASEC
AE
AF
AM
AR
AJ
AU
AORC
AG
AEMR
AMGT
APER
AGMT
AL
AFIN
AO
AMED
ADCO
AS
ABUD
ABLD
ASUP
ASECKFRDCVISKIRFPHUMSMIGEG
APECO
AID
AND
AMBASSADOR
AN
ARM
AY
AODE
AMG
ASCH
AMCHAMS
ARF
APCS
APEC
ASEAN
AGAO
ANET
ADPM
ACOA
ACABQ
AORL
AFFAIRS
ATRN
ACS
AFSI
AFSN
ADANA
ASIG
AA
AX
AUC
AC
AECL
AADP
AGRICULTURE
AMEX
ACAO
ACBAQ
AQ
AORG
ADM
AINF
AIT
ASEX
AGR
AROC
ATFN
AFGHANISTAN
AFU
AER
ALOW
AZ
AVERY
BA
BY
BU
BR
BE
BL
BO
BK
BM
BILAT
BH
BEXP
BF
BTIO
BC
BBSR
BMGT
BTIU
BG
BWC
BB
BD
BX
BP
BRUSSELS
BN
BIDEN
BT
CW
CH
CF
CD
CV
CVIS
CM
CE
CA
CJAN
CLINTON
CIA
CU
CASC
CI
CO
CACM
CDB
CN
CMGT
CS
CG
CBW
CIS
CR
CONDOLEEZZA
CPAS
CAN
CWC
CY
COUNTER
CDG
CL
CT
CIC
CIDA
CSW
CHR
CB
CODEL
COUNTERTERRORISM
CTR
COM
CICTE
CFED
CJUS
CKGR
CBSA
CEUDA
CARSON
CONS
CITEL
CLMT
CROS
CITT
CAC
CVR
CDC
CAPC
COPUOS
CBC
CBE
CARICOM
COE
COUNTRY
CLEARANCE
CACS
CTM
CNARC
ECON
EFIN
ETRD
EUN
EFIS
EG
ETTC
EZ
EPET
EAID
EAGR
ENRG
ECUN
EU
ELAB
ECPS
EAIR
EINV
ELTN
EWWT
EIND
EMIN
EI
ECIN
ENVR
ELECTIONS
EINVEFIN
EN
ES
ER
EC
EUC
EINT
EINVETC
ENGR
ET
EK
ENIV
ETRDEINVECINPGOVCS
ECONOMY
EAP
EFTA
EUR
EUMEM
EXIM
ERD
ENERG
EUREM
ESA
ERNG
EXTERNAL
EPA
EINVECONSENVCSJA
ECONOMICS
ELN
EINN
EFINECONCS
ENNP
EEPET
ETRDEINVTINTCS
ENVI
ETRO
ESENV
ECINECONCS
ECONOMIC
EAIDS
EDU
ETRA
ETRN
EFIM
EIAR
ETRC
EAIG
EXBS
EURN
ECIP
EREL
ECA
ENGY
ECONCS
ECONEFIN
ETC
ETRDECONWTOCS
EUNCH
EINDETRD
IR
IZ
IS
IAEA
INRB
IRAJ
IQ
IN
IT
IMO
INTERPOL
ICAO
IO
IC
ITALY
ITALIAN
IRAQI
ICTY
ID
IPR
IWC
ILC
INTELSAT
IL
IBRD
IMF
IA
IRC
ICRC
ILO
ITU
ITRA
IV
IDA
IAHRC
ICJ
ISRAELI
IRS
INMARSAT
ISRAEL
ISLAMISTS
INDO
IZPREL
ITPHUM
ITPGOV
ITF
IBET
IEFIN
INR
IACI
INTERNAL
IDP
IGAD
IEA
ICTR
IIP
INRA
INRO
IF
KJUS
KSCA
KNNP
KU
KCOR
KCRM
KDEM
KTFN
KHLS
KPAL
KWBG
KACT
KGHG
KPAO
KTIA
KIRF
KWMN
KS
KG
KZ
KN
KMDR
KISL
KSPR
KHIV
KPRP
KAWK
KR
KUNR
KDRG
KCIP
KGCC
KTIP
KSUM
KPKO
KVIR
KAWC
KPIN
KGIC
KRAD
KIPR
KOLY
KCFE
KMCA
KE
KV
KICC
KNPP
KBCT
KSEP
KFRD
KFLU
KVPR
KOCI
KBIO
KSTH
KMPI
KCRS
KOMC
KTBT
KPLS
KIRC
KREL
KFRDKIRFCVISCMGTKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KFLO
KBTS
KSTC
KTDB
KFSC
KX
KFTFN
KNEI
KIDE
KREC
KMRS
KICA
KPAONZ
KCGC
KSAF
KRGY
KCMR
KRVC
KVRP
KSEO
KCOM
KAID
KTEX
KNUC
KNAR
KNUP
KNNPMNUC
KLIG
KFRDCVISCMGTCASCKOCIASECPHUMSMIGEG
KCRCM
KHDP
KGIT
KNSD
KOMS
KWMM
KPAI
KHSA
KTLA
KO
KMFO
KRCM
KCSY
KSAC
KTRD
KPWR
KID
KWNM
KRIM
KPOA
KCHG
KOM
KSCI
KFIN
KMOC
KESS
KWAC
KMIG
KSEC
KIFR
KDEMAF
KPRV
KBTR
KERG
KTER
KDDG
KPAK
KRFD
KHUM
KDEV
KCFC
KWWMN
KWMNCS
KJUST
MARR
MOPS
MU
MTCRE
MNUC
MY
MASS
MCAP
MOPPS
MAR
MPOS
MO
ML
MR
MASC
MX
MD
MP
MA
MTRE
MIL
MCC
MZ
MK
MDC
MRCRE
MAPS
MV
MI
MEPN
MAPP
MEETINGS
MAS
MTS
MLS
MILI
MTCR
MG
MC
MARAD
MIK
MILITARY
MEDIA
MEPI
MUCN
MEPP
MT
MERCOSUR
MW
MASSMNUC
MQADHAFI
NZ
NATO
NG
NI
NO
NATIONAL
NU
NPT
NIPP
NL
NPG
NS
NA
NGO
NP
NSG
NDP
NAFTA
NR
NC
NH
NE
NSF
NPA
NK
NSSP
NRR
NATOPREL
NSC
NT
NW
NORAD
NEW
NV
NSFO
NAR
NASA
NZUS
OTRA
OVIP
OPRC
OPDC
OSCE
OAS
ODIP
OIIP
OFDP
OVP
OREP
OFFICIALS
OSAC
OEXC
OPCW
OIE
OIC
OFDA
OSCI
OPIC
OBSP
OECD
ON
OCII
OHUM
OES
OCS
OMIG
OPAD
OTR
PGOV
PREL
PHUM
PINR
PTER
PSOE
PINS
PARM
PK
PBTS
PEPR
PM
POLITICAL
PARTIES
PREF
PBIO
PROP
PA
PSI
PINT
PO
PKFK
PL
PAK
PE
POLITICS
PINL
POL
PHSA
PU
PF
POV
PFOR
PHALANAGE
PARTY
PARMS
PRGOV
PNAT
POLINT
PRAM
PMAR
PG
PAO
PROG
PRELP
PPA
PCUL
PSEPC
PSA
PREO
PAHO
PGIV
PREFA
PALESTINIAN
PAIGH
POSTS
PTBS
PGOVLO
PORG
PGOVE
PLN
PINF
PAS
PUNE
POLICY
PDEM
PDOV
PCI
PGOVSMIGKCRMKWMNPHUMCVISKFRDCA
PBT
PHUMPGOV
PMIL
PNG
PP
PS
PHUH
PECON
POGOV
PY
PHUMPREL
PHUS
PRL
PGOC
PNR
PGGV
PROV
PTERE
PGOF
PHUMBA
PEL
RS
RU
RW
REGION
RP
RICE
ROBERT
RSP
RUPREL
RM
RO
RCMP
RSO
RELATIONS
REACTION
REPORT
RIGHTS
ROOD
RF
RFE
RIGHTSPOLMIL
SP
SA
SY
SF
SYR
SENV
SCUL
SOCI
SNAR
SO
SU
SG
STEINBERG
SHUM
SW
SMIG
SR
SZ
SIPRS
SI
SAARC
SPCE
SARS
SN
SYRIA
SANC
SL
SCRS
SC
SENVKGHG
SAN
SNARCS
SHI
SWE
SNARIZ
SIPDIS
SEN
SNARN
SPCVIS
SEVN
SSA
SH
SOFA
SK
ST
TPHY
TU
TRGY
TI
TX
TS
TW
TC
TFIN
TD
TSPA
TH
TT
TIP
TBIO
TSPL
TZ
TERRORISM
TRSY
TN
THPY
TINT
TF
TL
TV
TK
TO
TP
TURKEY
TNGD
TBID
TAGS
TR
UP
US
UNSC
UK
UZ
UE
UNESCO
UV
UNGA
UN
UNMIK
UNO
UY
UAE
UNEP
UG
UNHCR
UNHRC
USUN
UNAUS
USTR
USNC
USOAS
UNCHR
UNCSD
UNDP
USEU
USPS
UNDC
UNDESCO
UNCHC
UNFICYP
UNC
UNODC
UNPUOS
UNCND
UNICEF
UNCHS
UNVIE
USAID
UNIDROIT
Browse by classification
Community resources
courage is contagious
Viewing cable 08OTTAWA1560, CANADA STRIVING TO COMBAT TIP
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
Understanding cables
Every cable message consists of three parts:
- The top box shows each cables unique reference number, when and by whom it originally was sent, and what its initial classification was.
- The middle box contains the header information that is associated with the cable. It includes information about the receiver(s) as well as a general subject.
- The bottom box presents the body of the cable. The opening can contain a more specific subject, references to other cables (browse by origin to find them) or additional comment. This is followed by the main contents of the cable: a summary, a collection of specific topics and a comment section.
Discussing cables
If you find meaningful or important information in a cable, please link directly to its unique reference number. Linking to a specific paragraph in the body of a cable is also possible by copying the appropriate link (to be found at theparagraph symbol). Please mark messages for social networking services like Twitter with the hash tags #cablegate and a hash containing the reference ID e.g. #08OTTAWA1560.
Reference ID | Created | Released | Classification | Origin |
---|---|---|---|---|
08OTTAWA1560 | 2008-12-16 22:10 | 2011-04-28 00:12 | UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY | Embassy Ottawa |
VZCZCXRO7920
OO RUEHGA RUEHHA RUEHMT RUEHQU RUEHVC
DE RUEHOT #1560/01 3512229
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 162229Z DEC 08
FM AMEMBASSY OTTAWA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8874
INFO RUCNCAN/ALL CANADIAN POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHME/AMEMBASSY MEXICO 1908
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 OTTAWA 001560
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
STATE FOR WHA/CAN AND G/TIP (BARBARA FLECK)
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SMIG KCRM KWMN CA
SUBJECT: CANADA STRIVING TO COMBAT TIP
REF: A. VANCOUVER 288
¶B. OTTAWA 1072
¶C. OTTAWA 1546
¶1. (SBU) Summary: Canada has an active inter-agency working group
to combat trafficking in persons, as well as a variety of NGO
efforts. More comprehensive research and statistics, a national
action plan, greater co-ordination among national and provincial
government agencies and NGOs, and greater investment in victim
services would improve overall anti-TIP performance. One
Conservative Member of Parliament has made TIP a top legislative and
political priority. End summary.
¶2. (U) G/TIP official Barbara Fleck visited Ottawa and Toronto
during the week of December 8 for consultations with Canadian
officials about Canada's ongoing efforts to combat trafficking in
persons and how better to improve its performance. (Septel will
cover discussions and anti-TIP efforts in Toronto.)
INTER-AGENCY WORKING GROUP
--------------------------
¶3. (SBU) A federal Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in
Persons (IWGTIP), which the Departments of Justice and Public Safety
co-chair, shares information among its members on a regular basis
and meets at least twice per year. (IWGTIP last met in spring 2008
and will meet again in December.) IWGTIP coordinates the anti-TIP
work of 17 federal departments and agencies: the Canada Border
Services Agency (CBSA); Canadian International Development Agency
(CIDA); Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS); Department of
Citizenship and Immigration; the Financial Transactions Reports
Analysis Centre (FINTRAC); Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade (DFAIT); Department of Health; Department of
Canadian Heritage; Department of Human Resources and Skills
Development; Department of Indian and Northern Affairs; Department
of Justice; Passport Canada agency; Privy Council Office; Department
of Public Safety; Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP); Statistics
Canada agency; and, Status of Women agency.
¶4. (SBU) Representatives from the RCMP, CBSA, and FINTRAC reported
excellent cross-border working relationships with U.S. law
enforcement agencies, including two ongoing investigations of
potential human trafficking rings operating in Western Canada. The
RCMP also conducts TIP training workshops across Canada for
approximately 150 law enforcement, border, and immigration officials
per month, and has invited ICE special agents to conduct some
workshops. IWGTIP officials downplayed expectations of an increase
in trafficking during the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games,
contrary to the views of some NGOs. The RCMP has nonetheless
provided training in trafficking awareness to more than 260 law
enforcement officers in preparation for the 2010 Games. The RCMP
has six Human Trafficking Awareness Coordinators nationwide working
with NGOs, social services agencies, and local communities.
¶5. (SBU) Public Safety Canada manages an ongoing public education
initiative including posters and other education materials. Public
Safety recently signed an agreement to partner with the Canadian
Crime Stoppers Association to use its toll-free telephone hotline,
and plans to train Crime Stoppers hotline operators to identify
potential TIP cases. The roll-out of the new partnership will
include a poster, video, radio and print advertising campaign (ref
B).
GETTING THE RIGHT NUMBERS
-------------------------
¶6. (SBU) Many observers view a lack of reliable statistical data and
information sharing as major challenges to more effective anti-TIP
activities. For example, trafficking victims who make asylum claims
Qactivities. For example, trafficking victims who make asylum claims
are counted as refugee applicants and are unlikely to appear as
trafficking victims in official statistics. Statistics Canada is
currently conducting a feasibility study, due for completion in
April 2009, for nationwide collection of anti-trafficking case data
and statistics. Dr. Marlene Dalley of RCMP's National Missing
Children Services indicated that reliable data relating to child
trafficking in Canada remains difficult to gather. She pointed to
two particularly vulnerable populations of children: Canada's
estimated 55,000 runaways; and, aboriginal minors who fall victim to
substance abuse, poverty, and homelessness. Dalley commented that
it was unclear how many of these children may be victims of
trafficking, mostly because some police officers do not identify
many TIP cases on the ground.
NGO VIEWS
---------
¶7. (SBU) In separate meetings, representatives of the Native
Women's Association of Canada (NWAC) and Persons Against the Crime
OTTAWA 00001560 002 OF 003
of Trafficking in Humans (PACT-Ottawa) insisted that Canada remains
a source, destination, and transit country for trafficking in
persons, even though the Canadian government does not view itself as
a major "source" country for domestic human trafficking. In
addition to international trafficking through Canada's major cities,
they reported organized internal flows of women and girls to Western
Canada to provide oil and gas workers with commercial sex services.
Girls and children also move from aboriginal communities in northern
Canada to work in the commercial sex sector in urban areas.
According to the NGOs, the problem of internal trafficking of
aboriginal girls and children is "huge." In recent decades, over
500 aboriginal women have been murdered or gone missing; NWAC
believes some of these women likely were victims of trafficking.
The Canadian government has partnered with NWAC on a five-year
"Sisters in Spirit" initiative (2005-2010) to address violence in
aboriginal communities and the high rates of missing and murdered
aboriginal women (ref C). According to the NGOs, there is still a
pressing need for more statistical research "across the board" to
define the scale of the problem and form the basis for future
advocacy and action.
VICTIM SUPPORT: A WEAK LINK
---------------------------
¶8. (SBU) NWAC and PACT-Ottawa officials also identified improved
victim services and increased shelter capacity as additional
prerequisites for more effective law enforcement action. They
expressed concern that Canada's practice of detaining foreign
trafficking victims in immigration detention centers -- rather than
in shelters where they can receive social and medical support --
deters victims from seeking assistance. (Note: There are
immigration detention facilities in Toronto, Montreal, and
Vancouver. End note.) The lack of shelters and victims' services
may also be a factor in the low demand for Temporary Residence
Permits (TRPs) for trafficked victims; reportedly, only 31 TRPs
(including renewals) have been issued since May 2006. Referrals and
victims' services operate largely on an ad hoc basis; lack of
documentation for trafficked persons makes it more likely that these
victims could "fall through the cracks," mostly because TIP victims
do not easily meet the definitional requirements for being a victim
of domestic violence (which provides easier access to government
assistance).
¶9. (SBU) Six shelters operate currently in Ottawa, all provincially
funded, to serve victims of domestic violence and their children.
Immigrant Women Services Ottawa provides interpretation services for
female victims unable to communicate in English or French. While
Ottawa shelter providers cited incidents of suspected trafficking
cases among immigrant women and aboriginal youth, they added that
they have never been formally trained to identify victims of
trafficking, and were eager to learn more about TIP. (Poloff
subsequently introduced the shelter management to several NGO
activists eager to raise awareness of TIP.) Shelter staff
underlined the need for facilities exclusively for single women,
whose challenges, such as trauma and addictions, are often difficult
to address in an environment with children. Interval House, an
Ottawa shelter, hopes to build a facility for single women if it can
attract sufficient funds; it currently has only four beds -- which
are always full -- for women without children.
SUPPORT IN PARLIAMENT
---------------------
¶10. (SBU) MP Joy Smith (Conservative-Winnipeg), a vocal proponent of
Q10. (SBU) MP Joy Smith (Conservative-Winnipeg), a vocal proponent of
strengthened anti-trafficking measures, has called on the government
to adopt a national action plan to combat trafficking. She also
advocates a comprehensive strategy combining all levels of
government, law enforcement, and NGOs to fight TIP, incorporating
increased enforcement of existing anti-trafficking laws, greater law
enforcement training, deeper linkages with the NGO community,
support for victim shelters and rehabilitation services, and more
educational and prevention efforts. Smith has suggested creation of
a new position of Minister of State for Trafficking In Persons, and
is encouraging fellow parliamentarians to place TIP higher on the
government's justice agenda.
¶11. (SBU) Smith said that she intends to introduce at least two
private member bills in the 2009 legislative session addressing
trafficking: one would establish mandatory minimum sentencing for
commercial sexual exploitation of persons younger than age 18; and
the second would strengthen notification requirements when sexual
predators travel abroad. Smith, whose son is an RCMP officer,
commented that law enforcement agents were still not fully aware of
the scope or nature of trafficking, and that the number of
prosecutions remained far lower than it should be. British Columbia
is currently the only province to have established an office
dedicated to combating trafficking (ref A). Smith praised the
Harper government's efforts to reduce issuance of "exotic dancer"
OTTAWA 00001560 003 OF 003
visas -- which likely had previously been used to traffic foreign
women into Canada's sex trade -- from a past high of several hundred
to only two or three per year now. Smith noted that the adult
entertainment industry had already threatened a legal challenge to
the government's reduction of visas in this category.
¶12. (U) G/TIP has cleared this cable.
WILKINS