Answers To Your Common Questions

General Questions

• Who is most at risk for becoming a victim of trafficking in persons?
• How do trafficking victims enter Canada?
• Is trafficking in persons the same as migrant smuggling?
• Are persons who work in the sex trade victims of human trafficking?
• What do I do if I suspect someone is being trafficked?
• Have there been any convictions in Canada for trafficking in persons?

For persons migrating to Canada

• I am not sure if I can trust the person who is offering me a job in Canada. What should I do?
• I have been offered a job as an “entertainer”. What work will I do?
• How long will I have to work for the employer who brought me to Canada?
• I have been told that the job will pay me much more money than I make in six months here. Is it possible?
• Once I am in Canada can I travel in Canada and to the United States?
• Can any organizations in my country help me get more information?

General Questions

1. Who is most at risk for becoming a victim of trafficking in persons?

Although anyone can become a trafficking victim, persons who face social, economic, and legal inequality are at increased risk of becoming victims of trafficking in persons. However, victims of trafficking can come from any socio-economic background.

Victims of trafficking are often promised legitimate, well-paying jobs, as, for example, caregivers, waitresses, or models. The promise of money and of a better life is often used in cases of trafficking, as are the use of threats or other forms of coercion to provide labour or services.

2. How do trafficking victims enter Canada?

As is the case in other countries, foreign nationals who are trafficked into Canada may enter Canada through both legal and illegal means. Some enter with genuine passports, entry documents, or work visas. Others gain entry through falsified or altered entry documents. Fraudulent offers of employment are also used to support applications to obtain visas and convince border and visa officials that the victim intends to return to his or her country of origin. Traffickers may also smuggle their victims into the country. Trafficking victims may also be Canadian citizens who are moved from one province to another or even within the same city. Ultimately, the victim is exploited and forced to provide labour or services for fear of their safety or the safety of someone known to them.

3. Is trafficking in persons the same as "migrant smuggling?"

Trafficking in persons is different from migrant smuggling. "Smuggling" refers to illegally entering a country. Upon reaching their destination in the country, smuggled migrants are usually free to go their own way. Smuggled migrants may, however, become victims of trafficking during their transit or upon reaching their destination. For example, migrants may suddenly be told that they owe more money and be forced to work in order to pay off the debts owed to their smugglers

4. Are persons who work in the sex trade victims of human trafficking?

Prostitution itself is not illegal in Canada and does not necessarily involve trafficking in persons. Similarly, exotic dancing is not illegal. Some individuals willingly work in the sex trade and are able to leave at any time. Intelligence and investigations to date however, indicate that many victims of trafficking are forced into the sex trade and exploited.

5. What do I do if I suspect someone is being trafficked?

You can report your suspicion to any police agency in Canada. If you wish to do so anonymously you may contact Crime Stoppers tipline at 1-800-222- TIPS(8477).

6. Have there been any convictions in Canada for trafficking in persons?

To date there have been a number of successful prosecutions for the offence of trafficking in persons. These cases have involved victims and traffickers who were Canadian citizens. In each case a term of imprisonment was imposed. A number of other cases remain before the courts.

For persons migrating to Canada

1. I am not sure if I can trust the person who is offering me a job in Canada. What should I do?

Be careful. In Canada, we have a saying “If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.” Don’t get caught by promises of money. You may end up paying for your mistake with your life.

Do not say anything about your family and where they live. Criminals may use this information to make you do things you don’t want to do. If you come to Canada and try to get away from them, they might hurt your children or parents or other family members back home to control you.

Find out as much as you can about the person offering you the job, about the job and about the address of your place of work. Be suspicious if you are told that this information is a secret.

Give your family or friends all the information you have about the people helping you get to Canada, the job and the place where you are going to work before you leave.

2. I have been offered a job as an “entertainer”. What work will I do?

You need to ask the person offering you the job exactly what you will be expected to do. Try to sign a contract with the person. The contract should say what you will do, where you will do it and how much you will be paid for doing it.

“Entertainer” may be a way of saying that you will work in the sex trade. Some jobs in the sex trade are legal, for example dancing naked without touching. Many jobs in the sex trade are illegal, for example being in a house where people pay money to have sex.

3. How long will I have to work for the employer who brought me to Canada?

No employer can force you to stay at a job. But, dishonest employers may watch you all the time so that you cannot get away. Or, they may threaten to send you back to your home country or hurt you or your family if you leave the job they have for you.

4. I have been told that the job will pay me much more money than I make in six months here. Is it possible?

Probably not. Dishonest employers will lie about how much you will get paid and will find ways to make you pay back almost all the money you earn. They will say you must pay them for food, for a place to sleep, for bringing you to Canada. Also, things are expensive in Canada. It may sound like a lot of money but you may find out that it is not enough for a good place to live and for food.

5. Once I am in Canada can I travel in Canada and to the United States?

You can travel freely in Canada when you have come into Canada legally with a legal passport and work permit. You will have to apply to the United States government for permission to enter the United States. The United States government will decide whether or not you can go into the United States according to its rules.

A person who traffics in people may try to stop you from travelling by taking your passport and work permit away from you. This is one way that traffickers keep you trapped in a place that you don’t want to be, doing work that you don’t want to do. Make sure you always keep your passport and work permit with you. Don’t ever let anyone keep them for you.

6. Can any organizations in my country help me get more information?

In some countries, human rights organizations are working to protect people from becoming victims of traffickers. As well, United Nations’ organizations such as the International Labour Organization may have a project in your country.