Alberta announces $21 million to create office to fight human trafficking

Alberta will spend $20.8 million over the next four years to pay for recommendations from its antihuman trafficking task force.

The new spending, announced at Edmonton International Airport Sunday by Premier Jason Kenney, Justice Minister Tyler Shandro and country singer and task force chair Paul Brandt, will fund the creation of an office focused on combating trafficking as well as a “centre for excellence” to research the issue, which the three speakers linked to sexual violence, labour exploitation and organ harvesting.

“I’ve seen first-hand the terrible damage this does to people’s lives all around the world, but too often we think of human trafficking as something that happens in the developing world, places distant from here,” Kenney said. “The reality is this scourge of modern slavery happens right here in our own backyard.”

“Human trafficking is now one of the fastest growing crimes in Canada,” added Brandt. “From the standpoint of prevention and for survivors, this $20.8 million and the acceptance of these Alberta human trafficking task force recommendations come not a moment too soon.” Postmedia News