Ontario to invest over $300 million to fight human trafficking

The Ford government is committing over $300 million in the next five years to help stop human trafficking.

Premier Doug Ford made the announcement in St. Catharines today, saying the province has developed a multi-level strategy to keep girls and women safe from the highly dangerous and traumatic experience of being forced into sex work.

The money will help fund a variety of measures, including an expansion of the provincial police force’s child exploitation unit and a public education campaign and part of the money will also be dedicated to victims’ services, including supportive housing for human trafficking survivors.

The Ontario government says about two-thirds of Canada’s police-reported human trafficking violations take place in Ontario. Human trackers make an estimated $50 million
annually by targeting children. 70% of human trafficking victims are under the age of 25, the average age is 13.