Reform bail for trafficking

AI summary

Petitioners ask the Government of Canada to reform bail for serious human-trafficking and exploitation offences to prioritize victim safety and re-exploitation risk, repeal C-75 and C-5, and improve domestic and international enforcement coordination.

AI summaries describe petitioners’ requests and claims. Consult the official record for the full text.

Official petition

Petition to the Government of Canada Human trafficking is one of the fastest growing crimes worldwide and continues to occur within Canada; Canada remains both a source and destination country for human trafficking, particularly for the sexual exploitation and forced labor; Major transportation routes, including the highway 401 corridor are known to be used by traffickers to move victims between communities; Communities along the 401 corridor including Ashowah and other parts of Durham region, have experienced the devastating local impacts of human trafficking; Survivors of human trafficking often live in fear of retaliation, intimidation or reexploitation; and Canada's current bail system has been widely criticized as a catch and release system that too often results in repeat violent offenders being released into communities while awaiting trial. We, the undersigned, citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: 1. Reform Canada's bail system, as it applies to serious human trafficking and exploitation offenses to better protect victims and communities; 2. Scrap Bill C-75 and Bill C-5; 3. Ensure that victim safety and the risk of intimidation or reexploitation are primary considerations in bail determination; 4. Enhance coordination between federal, provincial, territorial and municipal governments, the private sector and the other stockholders, more closely to combat human trafficking in Canada; and 5. Cooperate with international investigations into human trafficking and sexual exploitation networks to investigate any individuals with ties to Canada were appropriate and strengthen Canadian laws and enforcement measures to combat human trafficking and protect children.

Government response

No government response is available yet.