Speech on February 14th, 2023

"Mister Speaker, February 22nd is National Human Trafficking Awareness Day.

Whether it is forced labour, forced marriages, sex trafficking, organ trafficking, or cyber sex, it's all hidden in plain sight right here in Canada.

Statistics Canada reports that in 2018, 97% of human trafficking victims were girls and women, 89% were below the age of 35, and 50% were Indigenous.

Human trafficking is vicious, growing, and profitable. All Canadians have the opportunity to make a difference by:

1. listening to survivors;
2. learning the signs;
3. advocating for change;
4. supporting Bill C-308;
5. supporting Bill S-211, which will have its third reading on March 6th.

Not all modern slavery involves human trafficking, but all traffic persons are slaves. On National Human Trafficking Awareness Day, let's take the necessary steps to end this scourge in our country.

Thank you, Mister Speaker."