trafficking:
• Physical, sexual, emotional, financial, and psychological abuse, trauma, and injury
• Poor living and working conditions
• Sexually transmitted infections and unwanted pregnancies
• Drug addiction and related health issues
Types of human traf fcking
Labour trafficking
Labour trafficking involves recruiting, moving or holding victims to force them into doing any kind of work.
New immigrants looking for work in Canada and migrant workers are often at the highest risk of being a target, especially if there is a language barrier.
It also affects those working in remote areas, or people who don’t know their legal rights. Labour trafficking affects many industries (e.g., foodservice, manufacturing, construction, agriculture, hospitality). It also occurs in private homes, where individuals are forced to work as housekeepers or childcare providers.
Sex trafficking
Sex trafficking involves recruiting, moving or holding victims for sexual exploitation purposes. Victims can be physically forced or threatened into providing sexual services.
“Human traffickers will develop deep and close bonds with their victims very quickly, usually through gifts and dramatic displays of attention and love, known as love-bombing,” said Jasminder Sekhon, Director of Community
Human traf fcking in Canada
Engagement, EDI and Policy, Victim Services Toronto. “The perpetrators will identify victims based on specific qualities they may have, like lack of resources and support systems, lack of knowledge about sexual and intimate relationships, people who are disabled, based on age or in any other type of vulnerable situation.”
Anyone can become a victim of sex trafficking. Young women and girls make up the majority of victims. Indigenous people are also at high risk. Vulnerable people (e.g., those who have lost or left their families, survivors of abuse, disadvantaged individuals) are often targeted. Traffickers impose control through threats, violence, isolation, blackmail, drugs, and confinement. Sex trafficking victims live and work in terrible conditions, suffering physical, sexual, financial, and psychological abuse.
From 2012 to 2022, there were almost 4,000 police-reported incidents of human trafficking in Canada. This accounts for only 0.02 per cent of all police-reported crimes. However, police-reported incidents of human trafficking increased by over 500 per cent over this time (see Figure 1).
Figure 1: Police-reported incidents of human trafficking, by statute, Canada, 2012 – 2022
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey.
According to Statistics Canada, in 2022:
• 56% of human trafficking incidents were not solved or cleared by police
• 48% of police-reported human trafficking incidents were reported in Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, and Hamilton
23% of all incidents happened in Toronto, followed by 9% in Ottawa
Thunder Bay, ON (5.9 incidents / 100,000 people) and Halifax, NS (5.0 incidents / 100,000 people) had the highest average annual rate of incidents
• 56% of incidents were related to the sex trade
• 94% of victims were female
69% were women and girls under 25
24% were aged 17 and younger
• 91% were trafficked by someone they knew
• 34% were trafficked by an intimate partner
Recognizing the signs
Multi-unit residential properties can be high risk environments for human trafficking due to:
• Limited oversight by owners of property
• Limited staff and security on site
• Access to vulnerable people, low-income families, immigrants, and those with fewer resources
• Economic pressures (e.g., higher cost of living)
• Low proximity to resources (e.g., community centres, food banks, churches, cultural centres)
Signs within the property
Be aware of these warning signs of human trafficking within your building:
• Unusual occupancy patterns, such as too many people living in a unit or high numbers of visitors at odd times
• Very few personal belongings within the unit, indicating it is not being treated as a home
• School-aged children not attending school during regular hours
• Significant age differences between the people in the unit
• Changes made to the unit (e.g., interior locks on doors or windows) that suggest someone is being confined
• Someone other than tenant making rent payments in cash or with prepaid credit cards
Other warning signs
A tenant may be a victim of human trafficking if they display these behaviours:
• Cannot explain circumstances (e.g., where they are, where they came from, recent or past events, why they are there)
• Cannot provide or find documents (e.g., passport, identification), or lack personal belongings
• No cash or cellphone (or have too much cash or several cellphones)
• Unaware of surroundings even when they have lived there for some time
• Tattooing, jewellery or branding indicating ownership
• From a foreign country and cannot speak English or French
• Cannot speak on their own behalf
• Speaking in a rehearsed way
• Fear of angering companion or boss, or fear of authority
• Isolated from friends or family, or cannot contact them
• Show bruises, signs of abuse, malnutrition, untreated medical issues or addiction
• Anxious, submissive, withdrawn or cannot maintain eye contact
• Frequently moved or accompanied by their trafficker
Legal obligations & responsibilities
As rental property owners and managers, you have specific legal obligations to your tenants. For example, the rental unit must meet minimum legal standards for health, safety, housing, and maintenance. You must also adhere to municipal property standards, zoning bylaws, fire safety regulations, local building codes, and other regulations governing the provision of rental housing.
You have a role to play in fighting human trafficking within your buildings. You are obligated to report suspected cases of human trafficking in your rental properties. Some municipalities have imposed a legal duty upon short-term rental owners to report any suspicious activity that may indicate human trafficking. This extends to all types of rental properties.
“According to section 125 of the Child, Youth and Family Services Act, all people in Ontario have a duty to report,” said Sekhon. “Property managers or landlords have the responsibility to report to the correct authorities when child trafficking, abuse, neglect or endangerment is occurring for anyone under the age of 16 years old.”
However, this duty to report may create legal challenges. Wrongly accusing someone of being a trafficker may lead to legal consequences. It can also be stressful to get involved in a criminal investigation. That said, you are protected under Canadian law if you report suspicious behaviour in good faith. Be vigilant of the warning signs of human trafficking and report any concerns to the authorities. This ensures you satisfy your legal and ethical obligations, and helps in fighting human trafficking.
How to report a suspected incident of human traf fcking
You can save someone’s life by reporting a suspected incident of human trafficking.
Do not confront the victim or trafficker directly. You could put yourself, the victim, and others in danger. If there is an immediate risk, call 911 and report the situation right away. If there is no immediate risk of danger, but you see signs of human trafficking, record the following details and submit the information to the authorities:
• A summary of the situation
• Date, time, and location of the event
• Photos/video or description of people involved (e.g., height, weight, age, hair colour, clothing)
• Any spoken names or nicknames
• Description and license plates of vehicles
Traf fcking prevention strategies
You can implement strategies to help create a less hospitable environment for human trafficking. These measures should be part of a comprehensive approach to help address the issue, including staff training, community engagement, and working with law enforcement. Being vigilant and staying up to date on what is happening in the community will help to prevent human trafficking in your buildings.
Tenant screening
Most rental property owners and managers have effective tenant screening processes. This is truly the first line of defence in preventing human
trafficking. Tenant screening involves conducting thorough background checks of potential tenants, including checking for criminal records and verifying rental history. This will help to identify prospective tenants with a history of engaging in suspicious activities or connections with criminal elements.
Tenant screening should include verification of identities. This involves thorough examination and vetting of government identification, and matching documentation to information provided on rental applications. Rental housing staff should have experience with identifying fake or inconsistent documentation, or work with a third party that provides this service.
Property management best practices
Conduct regular inspections of units as part of building maintenance. This also helps with detecting and preventing human trafficking. Follow proper procedures, such as providing sufficient notice prior to inspections and respecting tenant privacy. This enables you to identify signs of overcrowding, evidence of unauthorized occupants, or unit modifications that would indicate trafficking activities.
“Staff and owners who do regular property inspections and carry out property repairs in a timely manner are able to foster a good relationship with their tenants, as well as monitor their property to ensure safe living conditions for all tenants,” said Sekhon.
Recordkeeping is essential for good property management and to provide authorities with evidence of human trafficking. Keep detailed records of unit inspections, including notes of unusual observations or events. Records should include all tenant interactions, maintenance requests, and complaints or comments from other tenants. These records provide proof of patterns of behaviour, which will help with uncovering suspicious situations.
Implementing security measures
Every rental property should have some security measures in place to protect tenants and your property. They will also help to prevent human trafficking activities from taking place in your building. Install and monitor security cameras in common areas and building entrances to record evidence of suspicious activities. Ensure security practices are in line with local privacy laws and regulations.
Where possible, control access to your buildings using key fob systems, secure entry procedures or other approved methods. This will help prevent non-residents from entering the building and will enable you to monitor who enters and exits the property. Controlling access also makes it more difficult for traffickers and victims to enter or leave
their units without being noticed. Install good lighting in all exterior areas.
Training staff to fight human trafficking
A well-educated staff is effective in preventing human trafficking, as well as helping to get victims out of trouble. Provide employees with education and training on the basics of human trafficking and how it happens. Staff should be able to recognize common signs of trafficking, including unusual tenant behaviours, suspicious activities or arrangements, and signs of distress. Make sure staff feel comfortable enough to report their observations or suspicions of trafficking activity.
Training programs should incorporate proper response strategies when an employee suspects or identifies human trafficking. These include following proper reporting and documentation procedures, knowing how to stay safe and keep potential victims safe, and having access to contact information for the authorities. Include practice exercises or video portrayals to help staff know what to do in a real-world situation.
Educating tenants on protecting themselves
Keep tenants informed of what is happening in the building, as well as safety measures. Provide resources on human trafficking through welcome packages, building newsletters and websites, information sessions, and webinars. Tenants should understand the signs of human trafficking, learn how to protect themselves and others, and be able to safely and anonymously report suspicious behaviours.
Connected tenants make for a positive building community, as well as one that is protected from trafficking. Ensure tenants know who to contact within the building to report safety issues. Provide a method of anonymous reporting to protect tenants’ privacy. Host building events to create a stronger sense of community, raise awareness of trafficking, and strengthen tenants’ sense of responsibility for their neighbours.
“Staff and owners should foster an environment where everyone respects one another and looks out for each other,” said Sekhon. “Work with tenants to find resources when they are open about needing support.”
Conclusion
Human trafficking is happening right now in rental properties across Canada. You have a duty to protect your tenants from becoming victims and saving them. Recognize the signs of human trafficking and report suspicious activities to the authorities. Educate your tenants, train your staff, and create a safe and secure environment. The fight to end human trafficking begins with you.
