The Alberta government is partnering with some community organizations and investing $4 million to create the Alberta Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons.
Public Safety Minister Mike Ellis says this will create a more coordinated approach to dealing with human trafficking.
“A lot of these offender like to set up their shop sometimes in those rural communities to kinda hide and then send those victims out into the large municipalities in order to commit those crimes. It’s about having the communication between law enforcement and having this centre which will be a phenomenal resource for victims and it’s going to be a phenomenal resource for law enforcement to make sure we have a coordinated approach to this.
The establishment of the office was a recommendation from a provincial task force on dealing with human trafficking.
Ellis says this will also enhance public awareness of the issue.
“We have young girls disproportionately that are being trafficked as we speak today and that are getting involved with drugs. A lot of people don’t know this but this is what the predators do. They get these poor kids hooked on alcohol and drugs. This is why what this government is going to be doing in the future when we talk about compassionate care, that’s going to be a tool in the toolbox.”
We asked the Minister a couple of questions during the press conference announcing this (video below).
Operation of the Alberta Office to Combat Trafficking in Persons will be led in partnership by #NotInMyCity, Native Counselling Services of Alberta (NCSA) and REACH Edmonton Council for Safer Communities.
– Kyle Moore, Trending 55 Newsroom
