Burnaby, British Columbia
The COVID-19 pandemic has created unprecedented and additional challenges for many of Canada's most vulnerable citizens. It has underscored the social and economic inequalities that lead to human trafficking and other forms of exploitation, which disproportionately affect women and girls and marginalized individuals. These are heinous crimes that devastate the victims and survivors, their families, communities and society as a whole.
To mark International Women's Day, the Minister of Public Safety, the Honourable Marco Mendicino, met with the Salvation Army's B.C. Division where the Propel Development Program For Survivors of Human Trafficking project is empowering survivors of human trafficking to reclaim their independence. Fourteen such projects have received a total of $5.12 million over four years through Public Safety Canada's Program to Combat Serious and Organized Crime.
The Propel Program is supported through almost $850,000 in federal funding over four years and offers support through two specialized streams. The first stream provides subsidized housing within the province for survivors of labour and/or sexual trafficking in need of interim housing to support their transition to independent living. The second stream supports a development centre for survivors of human trafficking aged 16 and older, to access specialized training and education. Survivors are further supported in their transition through access to opportunities like job prospects, volunteering, cultural connections, Indigenous mentorship, and the chance to establish long term community ties.
While significant progress has been made to combat this appalling crime, there is still work to do as we move toward building a safer and more resilient Canada. That is why the Government of Canada will continue to collaborate with its partners to help ensure at-risk populations and victims and survivors of human trafficking have access to the critical supports and resources they need.
