Juristat Bulletin—Quick Fact
Trafficking in persons in Canada, 2022
by Loanna Heidinger
Trafficking in persons, or human trafficking, is a serious human rights violation that can occur domestically or transnationally with the crossing of international borders. Human trafficking involves the recruitment, transportation or harbouring of a person and includes controlling or influencing their movements with the goal of exploiting, or facilitating the exploitation of, a person (Public Safety Canada, 2022a; Public Safety Canada, 2022b).Note
Human trafficking is considered a criminal offence in Canada, as outlined in the Criminal Code and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) (see Text box 1). The National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, announced in 2019, further outlines the Government of Canada’s commitment to prevent and address human trafficking, including providing support to victims and survivors (Public Safety Canada, 2022b).
Despite legislation prohibiting all forms of human trafficking both within and outside Canadian borders, it is difficult to detect and measure due to its hidden nature. Victims of human trafficking are generally isolated and concealed from the public, and many may experience barriers or be unwilling to report to authorities for various reasons, including a general distrust of authorities, feelings of shame, fear of consequences, language barriers, or a lack of human rights knowledge (Public Safety Canada, 2022a; Public Safety Canada, 2022b; UNODC, 2021). Moreover, the detection of human trafficking cases by police services may be dependent on the availability of resources, specialized units and training received.
While human trafficking takes various forms,Note trafficking for sexual exploitation is the most detected and encountered form of human trafficking by law enforcement in Canada (Public Safety Canada, 2022c). It is highly gendered, disproportionately impacting women and girls, although men and boys are also victims (Parliament of Canada 2018; Public Safety Canada, 2022a; Public Safety Canada, 2022b; UNODC, 2021). Furthermore, certain groups experience a heightened risk of human trafficking for sexual exploitation, including vulnerable youth and people who experience social or economic marginalization (Public Safety Canada, 2022a; Public Safety Canada, 2022b).
Trafficking for forced labour is another form of human trafficking. Unlike human trafficking for sexual exploitation, victims of trafficking for forced labour vary largely by age and gender depending on geography and economic sector (UNODC, 2021). As with other types of trafficking, data on labour trafficking is limited and estimates of the number of victims may be largely underestimated (CCTEHT, 2023a).
Using data from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey, this Juristat Bulletin—Quick Fact examines trends in police-reported incidents of human trafficking in Canada and highlights characteristics of victims and accused persons. Court outcomes of cases related to human trafficking are also examined using data from the Integrated Criminal Court Survey (ICCS).
This article was produced with funding support from Public Safety Canada.
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Text box 1
Human trafficking in the Criminal Code and the Immigration and
Refugee Protection Act
In 2005, the following human trafficking offences were added to the Criminal Code:
- Section 279.01: trafficking in persons
- Section 279.02: receiving financial or other material benefit for the purpose of committing or facilitating trafficking in persons
- Section 279.03: withholding or destroying identity documents (e.g., a passport, whether authentic or forged) for the purpose of committing or facilitating trafficking of that person
- Section 279.04: defines exploitation for the purpose of human trafficking offences.
In 2008/2009, the first case involving a human trafficking charge under this new legislation was completed in adult criminal court.
In 2010, section 279.011 was added to the Criminal Code which imposed mandatory minimum penalties for individuals accused of the trafficking of persons under the age of 18 years.
In 2012,the Criminal Code was amended to allow for the prosecution of Canadians and permanent residents for human trafficking offences committed internationally and to provide judges with an interpretive tool to assist in determining whether exploitation occurred (subsection 279.04(2)).
In 2014, mandatory minimum penalties were imposed on the main trafficking offence (section 279.01), as well as for receiving a material benefit from the trafficking of children (subsection 279.02(2)) and withholding or destroying documents to facilitate the trafficking of children (279.03(2)).
In 2019, amendments were brought into force that allow prosecutors to present evidence that the accused lived with or was habitually in the presence of an exploited person as proof of one of the elements of the trafficking offence, and that place the onus for forfeiture of proceeds of crime on those convicted of human trafficking offences (Department of Justice Canada, 2022b).
Section 118 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA), introduced in 2002, criminalizes the cross-border trafficking of one or more persons by means of abduction, fraud, deception, threatened or actual use of force or coercion (Public Safety Canada, 2022b). While human trafficking differs from human smuggling, the IRPA also prohibits the smuggling of persons into Canada.
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Section 1: Police-reported human trafficking
This section presents trends in police-reported human trafficking in Canada using data from the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) survey. Data from 2012 to 2022 are used to provide high-level national and regional trends of human trafficking. This is followed by an analysis of the characteristics of human trafficking incidents, victims and accused persons.
Number of police-reported human trafficking incidents decreased slightly in 2022
There were 3,996 police-reported incidents of human trafficking between 2012 and 2022.Note Incidents of human trafficking accounted for 0.02% of all police-reported crime during this time and represented an average annual rate of 1.0 incidents per 100,000 population.
In 2022, there were 528 police-reported incidents of human trafficking, a slight decrease compared to 2021, where 555 incidents were reported by police (Chart 1). The rate of human trafficking in 2022 decreased from the previous year (1.5 incidents per 100,000 population in 2021 and 1.4 incidents in 2022).
Looking at longer term trends, between 2012 and 2021, there were year-over-year increases in the number of police-reported incidents of human trafficking, except for a slight decrease in 2018.
Chart 1 start
Data table for Chart 1
| Year | Criminal Code | Immigration and Refugee Protection Act | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| number of incidents | |||
| 2012 | 60 | 32 | 92 |
| 2013 | 78 | 37 | 115 |
| 2014 | 143 | 57 | 200 |
| 2015 | 239 | 91 | 330 |
| 2016 | 249 | 102 | 351 |
| 2017 | 268 | 103 | 371 |
| 2018 | 238 | 117 | 355 |
| 2019 | 387 | 159 | 546 |
| 2020 | 385 | 168 | 553 |
| 2021 | 386 | 169 | 555 |
| 2022 | 411 | 117 | 528 |
|
Note: This chart is based on aggregate data, and counts are based on the most serious violation in a criminal incident. The Uniform Crime Reporting Survey was amended partway through 2011 to allow police services to report the specific offence of human trafficking under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Once the specific violation code was introduced, a small number of incidents which took place prior to this date were reported. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting Survey. |
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Chart 1 end
Police-reported incidents of human trafficking include Criminal Code and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) offences. Although there was a decrease in the number of police-reported human trafficking incidents overall in 2022 compared with 2021, there were opposing trends for Criminal Code and IRPA incidents. Compared with 2021, there were 25 more offences under the Criminal Code (representing a 6% increase) and 52 fewer offences under IRPA (representing a 31% decrease) in 2022.
In 2022, approximately eight in ten (78%) incidents of police-reported human trafficking were related to Criminal Code offences and about one in five (22%) were IRPA offences. These findings differ slightly from larger trends between 2012 and 2022 where, Criminal Code offences represented about seven in ten (71%) police-reported human trafficking incidents while almost three in ten (29%) incidents were related to IRPA.
Police-reported human trafficking incidents under the Criminal Code have generally increased from 2012 to 2021, with the exception of a decline in the number of incidents documented in 2018. This upward trend continued into 2022, with the number of Criminal Code incidents increasing from 2021 (386 incidents in 2021 and 411 incidents in 2022). These year over year increases in the number of incidents may indicate a rise in offences or improved overall detection of human trafficking. IRPA incidents of human trafficking generally increased from 2012 to 2021; however, in 2022 there was a decrease in the number of incidents compared to the previous year (169 incidents in 2021 and 117 incidents in 2022).
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Text box 2
Labour trafficking or forced labour
Labour trafficking, or forced labour, involves the control or exploitation of persons for their work or service. Labour trafficking can happen in many different industries; however, it is more common in low-wage and agricultural sectors (FCJ Refugee Centre and Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, 2023). There is limited research on labour trafficking and data on the number of victims may be largely underestimated. In Canada, men, women and children have been victims of labour trafficking.
Migrant workers play an important role in the Canadian economy and help to address critical labour shortages in Canada (FCJ Refugee Centre and Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, 2023). However, the precarious immigration status of migrant workers may increase their vulnerability to exploitation. Labour trafficking recruiters may lure victims with the promise of high paying jobs, legal documentation, and an overall better life in Canada (Canadian Council for Refugees, 2019).
Between 2019 and 2022, Mexican migrant workers accounted for the largest proportion (44%, on average) of temporary foreign workers in the agricultural sector in Canada (Statistics Canada, 2023). During this time, there was an annual average of 26,580 Mexican migrant workers in this sector in Canada.
Two recent large scale police investigations in Ontario uncovered two cases of labour trafficking targeting Mexican migrants. In 2019, more than 60 Mexican migrant workers were exploited by a network of labour traffickers in the Wasaga-Barrie region of Ontario (Canadian Council for Refugees, 2019). More recently, in 2023, 64 migrant workers were rescued from a labour trafficking situation in the Greater Toronto Area (York Regional Police Press Conference, 2023). Migrants recruited by labour traffickers were forced to work long hours in unsafe conditions and made little to no money. Their movements were restricted, and they were under the constant threat of detection by police and immigration authorities.
For more information on Labour Trafficking in Canada see Canadian Council for Refugees, 2019.
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Rates of human trafficking in Nova Scotia and Ontario are higher than the national average
Among the provinces, two exceeded the national rate (1.0 incidents per 100,000 population) of police-reported human trafficking between 2012 and 2022 (Table 1). Nova Scotia had the highest rate of human trafficking (3.1 incidents per 100,000 population), followed by Ontario (1.6 incidents). This pattern was consistent in 2022 with Nova Scotia reporting 4.5 incidents per 100,000 population and Ontario reporting 2.3 incidents, both higher than the national rate (1.4 incidents). Furthermore, in 2022, Nova Scotia accounted for 8.7% of human trafficking incidents and Ontario accounted for 67% of incidents despite respectively representing 2.6% and 39% of the Canadian population that same year (Statistics Canada, 2022).Note
A high concentration of urban areas in Ontario may contribute to the higher rates of human trafficking in the province. Ontario is made up of various population centres that may be used by human traffickers to avoid detection while increasing profits (CCTEHT, 2021). The accessibility of international border crossings may further appeal to traffickers. Since 2012, over one-third (35%) of human trafficking incidents in Ontario were IRPA related. In Nova Scotia, the relatively high rates of human trafficking have been linked to the province’s geographical location. Nova Scotia has been identified as a hub for human trafficking due to its coastal location, whereby victims are often moved from Atlantic Canada to the rest of the country (Barrett, 2013). Since 2012, one in three (30%) human trafficking incidents in Nova Scotia were IRPA-related.
Majority of incidents of police-reported human trafficking are in urban centres
In 2022, the majority (82%) of human trafficking incidents were reported to police in census metropolitan areas (CMAs).Note This finding has been consistent since 2012, with more than eight in ten (83%) incidents of human trafficking reported to police in CMAs between 2012 and 2022 (Table 2). In comparison, about six in ten (57%) violent incidents were reported to police in CMAs during this time.
Almost half (48%) of all police-reported incidents of human trafficking in Canada between 2012 and 2022 were reported in five CMAs: Toronto (911 incidents, 23% of all incidents in Canada), OttawaNote (364, 9% of all incidents), Montréal (249, 6% of all incidents), Halifax (243, 6% of all incidents), and Hamilton (160, 4% of all incidents). Four other CMAs reported a high number of human trafficking incidents: St Catharines-Niagara (136 incidents), London (130), Vancouver (117), and Edmonton (109).
Between 2012 and 2022, police services in Thunder BayNote and Halifax reported the highest average annual rate of human trafficking incidents (5.9 and 5.0 incidents per 100,000 population, respectively). Several CMAs reported an average annual rate of human trafficking that was higher than the average national rate (1.0 incidents per 100, 000 population), including Peterborough (3.9), Ottawa (3.2), Barrie (2.8), St Catharines-Niagara (2.6) and Windsor (2.6).
In 2022, more specifically, Halifax and Moncton reported the highest annual rate of police-reported human trafficking (5.6 and 5.0 incidents per 100,000 population, respectively). Several other CMAs had an annual rate higher than the national average (1.4 incidents per 100,000 population), including Barrie (4.8), Guelph (4.0), Thunder Bay (4.0), Peterborough (3.8), Kitchener-Cambridge-Waterloo (3.6), and London (3.6). In comparison, the overall rate of human trafficking incidents for the CMAs in Canada in 2022 was 1.5 incidents per 100,000 population.
One in four human trafficking incidents involved at least one other type of violation, most often related to sex trade
A human trafficking offence was listed as the most serious offence, either under the Criminal Code or IRPA, in the vast majority (95%) of police-reported human trafficking incidents between 2012 and 2022.Note Of all human trafficking incidents during this time, six in ten (60%) involved human trafficking as the only violation, while four in ten (40%) involved at least one other type of violation.Note Among these incidents, the associated offence was most often related to the sex trade, accounting for over half (56%) of all incidents with multiple violations.Note About one-third (35%) of incidents with an associated offence had a physical assault violation, about a quarter (27%) had a sexual offence, and one in eight (12%) had a deprivation of freedom offence.Note
Vast majority of police-reported human trafficking victims are women and girls
Between 2012 and 2022 there were 3,103 detected victims of police-reported human trafficking in Canada.Note Human trafficking is a gendered crime with women and girls accounting for the vast majority (94%) of victims, while men and boys comprise a small proportion (5.6%) of victims.Note The number of victims of human trafficking remained fairly stable in 2020 (410 victims) and 2021 (418 victims); however, in 2022 (439 victims) there was a 5% increase in the number of victims of human trafficking compared to the previous year and a 7% increase compared to 2020. In comparison, the number of victims of violent crime in 2022 was 5% higher than 2021 and 11% higher than 2020.
One in four victims of human trafficking are children and youth
Just over four in ten (43%) victims of human trafficking in Canada from 2012 to 2022 were aged 18 to 24 (Chart 2).Note Meanwhile, about one in four (24%) victims were under the age of 18 and one in five (22%) were between the ages of 25 and 34. Smaller proportions of victims were aged 35 to 44 (7.2%) and 45 and older (3.6%). Female victims of human trafficking were concentrated in the youngest age groups with approximately seven in ten (69%) of the 2,861 female victims under age 25. More specifically, about a quarter (24%) of female victims were under age 18 and nearly half (45%) were aged 18 to 24.
The age breakdown of victims of human trafficking differed for male victims compared to female victims. Of the 168 male victims of human trafficking, the largest proportion were aged 25 to 34 (35%), followed by those aged 18 to 24 (20%).
Chart 2 start
Data table for Chart 2
| Age group (years) | Female victims | Male victims | Total victimsData table for Chart 2 Note 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| percent | |||
| Under 18 | 24.0 | 14.9 | 23.7 |
| 18 to 24 | 44.9 | 19.6 | 43.4 |
| 25 to 34 | 21.5 | 35.1 | 22.2 |
| 35 to 44 | 6.7 | 15.5 | 7.2 |
| 45 and older | 2.9 | 14.9 | 3.6 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, Trend Database. |
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Chart 2 end
Human trafficking may involve violence and coercion and typically involves psychological harm. Prior research has consistently linked human trafficking to elevated rates of anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder and suicidal ideation among victims (Casassa et al., 2021; Dell et al., 2019; Hemmings et al., 2016). Although the UCR survey does not collect data on the psychological or emotional harm of human trafficking on victims, it does collect information on physical harm sustained during human trafficking. It is important to note that victims may experience a prolonged period of exploitation and as such, all physical injuries are not captured.
According to police-reported data, just over a quarter (27%) of victims of human trafficking sustained an injury.Note Among victims with an injury, a large majority (88%) sustained minor injuries and about one in eight (12%) sustained major injuries.Note
Men greatly outnumber women among adult accused, higher proportion of girls among youth accused
Between 2012 and 2022 there were 2,540 persons accused of police-reported human trafficking in Canada. About three-quarters (76%) of these accused were adults aged 18 to 34. More specifically two in five (40%) were aged 18 to 24 and over one-third (36%) were aged 25 to 34. A small proportion of accused persons were youth (4.3%) between the ages of 12 to 17.
Chart 3 start
Data table for Chart 3
| Age group (years) | Female accused | Male accused | Total accusedData table for Chart 3 Note 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| percent | |||
| Under 18Data table for Chart 3 Note 1 | 13.2 | 2.3 | 4.3 |
| 18 to 24 | 44.6 | 39.1 | 40.0 |
| 25 to 34 | 23.1 | 38.5 | 35.7 |
| 35 to 44 | 13.4 | 12.0 | 12.3 |
| 45 and older | 5.7 | 8.1 | 7.7 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Incident-based Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, Trend Database. |
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Chart 3 end
Overall, the large majority (82%) of persons accused of human trafficking were male. Men aged 18 to 34 accounted for almost two-thirds (64%) of all persons accused of human trafficking. Across adult age groups, the proportion of men accused of human trafficking outnumbered that of women, with about four in five (80%) accused identified as men in each adult age group. However, this pattern was not consistent among youth accused of human trafficking. Among the 109 youth (aged 12 to 17) accused of human trafficking, a larger proportion were girls (55%) than boys (44%).Note
Limited research on female human traffickers finds that there may be a blurred line between trafficking victims and perpetrators. Societal perceptions of women and girls, in particular youth, may position them as more trustworthy to potential victims (Kienast et al., 2014). Therefore, some traffickers may use female human trafficking victims to lure or recruit other females through manipulation and control, resulting in a situation where women and girls accused of human trafficking may themselves be current or former victims (Kienast et al., 2014).
Just over one-third of victims were trafficked by a current or former intimate partner
Between 2012 and 2022, the large majority (91%) of detected victims of human trafficking knew their accused trafficker, while a small proportion (8.8%) of victims were trafficked by a stranger. Notably, about one-third (34%) of victims of human trafficking were trafficked by an intimate partner.Note Prior research has found that traffickers often pose as a romantic partner to lure or recruit potential victims, with the intention of trafficking them (Fedina et al., 2019; UNODC, 2021). Almost one-quarter (22%) of police-reported victims were trafficked by a casual acquaintance and a similar proportion of victims were trafficked by someone with whom they had a criminal (13%)Note or a business relationship (11%). Trafficking by a friend (5.7%) or a non-spousal family member (2.9%)Note was relatively less common.
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Text box 3
Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada
The Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) is Canada’s financial intelligence unit. Using financial transaction reports, FINTRAC contributes to the detection, prevention, and the deterrence of money laundering. In 2016, FINTRAC, together with banks and law enforcement agencies, launched Project Protect, a partnership initiative targeting the money laundering aspect of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.
FINTRAC provides financial intelligence disclosures to law enforcement and security agencies in Canada to better understand and improve the detection of proceeds laundered from human trafficking for sexual exploitation. Since conception, Project Protect, has identified over 50 indicators, or markers, that may signal a pattern of suspicious activity related to the laundering of illicit proceeds (FINTRAC, 2021).
Recently, FINTRAC conducted an analysis of about 100,000 transactions related to human trafficking for sexual exploitation disclosed between 2018 and 2022. Findings indicate that most victims from these sexual exploitation-related FINTRAC disclosures provided sexual services at short-stay locations, such as hotels. However, illicit storefront businesses offering sexual services and private residences were also identified as locations where sexual exploitation occurred (FINTRAC, 2021).
Similar to findings from police-reported data, almost all victims from the sample of human trafficking for sexual exploitation-related FINTRAC disclosures were female, and a large proportion (60%) were under the age of 25. Most traffickers were males aged 24 to 36. A small proportion of traffickers were female, and most were victims themselves connected to male traffickers. The primary transactions identified in human trafficking for sexual exploitation-related disclosures were money transfers and cash deposits.
Multiple money laundering techniques were observed in the disclosures, including the use of prepaid credit cards, gift cards, investment accounts, and front companies owned by traffickers or associates. The involvement, or suspected involvement, of traffickers in other criminal activity was common, with many traffickers using victims to conduct crimes. Therefore, it was not clear if money laundered were proceeds from human trafficking specifically or from other illicit crimes (FINTRAC, 2021).
For more information on the indicators of laundering of proceeds from human trafficking for sexual exploitation, visit FINTRAC, 2021.
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Charges laid or recommended against the large majority accused of human trafficking, when accused person identified
Four in ten (40%) incidents of police-reported human trafficking were cleared by the laying or recommendation of charges. This was similar to the proportion of violent incidents that were cleared in the same manner (43%). Over half (56%) of human trafficking incidents were not cleared, which could be due to several factors, including the incident still being under investigation, insufficient evidence available to proceed, or no accused identified. In comparison, a smaller proportion (37%) of violent incidents were not cleared.
A large majority (91%) of those accused of human trafficking had charges laid or recommended against them. This was the case for 92% of females accused of human trafficking and 91% of males accused. About nine in ten (91%) adults accused of human trafficking had charges laid or recommended against them. This was the case for 88% of youth accused of human trafficking.
Human trafficking incidents involving Criminal Code violations more often result in charges being laid compared with Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
Overall, a larger proportion of police-reported human trafficking incidents involving Criminal Code violations resulted in a charge compared to those incidents involving IRPA offences. Just over half (52%) of Criminal Code violations were cleared by charge compared with less than one in five (18%) incidents involving IRPA.Note Less than half (45%) of Criminal Code violations were not cleared. In comparison, around three-quarters (76%) of incidents involving IRPA were not cleared. Similar proportions of Criminal Code violations and IRPA violations were cleared otherwise (4% and 5%, respectively). In cases where an accused was identified, a large majority (93%) of Criminal Code violations resulted in charges compared to about four in five (81%) IRPA violations.Note
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Text box 4
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline
In 2019, the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT) launched the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline (the Hotline), a confidential, multilingual service. Using a person-centred and trauma-informed approach, the Hotline connects those impacted by human trafficking, including victims, survivors and other signalers,Note to services and supports. Data is collected from all incoming interactions, including inbound phone calls, emails, or web chat. It is important to note that the Hotline only captures a subset of human trafficking cases across Canada; therefore, the data is not fully representative of all trafficking that occurs across the country.
In its first year (2019), the Hotline identified 415 casesNote of human trafficking involving 593 victims and in 2022, the Hotline identified 368 human trafficking cases and 518 victims (CCTEHT, 2023a; CCTEHT, 2023b). Since 2019,Note the Hotline has identified 1,500 human trafficking cases, ranging from 251 to 460 per year. The most common forms of human trafficking identified through the Hotline were sex trafficking (1,029 cases) and labour trafficking (88 cases).
Since 2019, approximately two in five (37%) callers who contacted the Hotline were victims of human trafficking. About two-thirds (67%) of human trafficking incidents were disclosed in Ontario. This was followed by incidents disclosed in Alberta (10%), British Columbia (9%) and Quebec (7%). Similar to what was observed in police-reported data, a large majority (87%) of human trafficking incidents disclosed to the Hotline occurred in large urban centresNote (CCTEHT, 2023b).
Between 2019 and 2022, Hotline staff provided 1,416 program and service referrals for cases related to human trafficking. Program and service referrals provided by Hotline staff were most often associated with shelter and housing (30%),Note case management (19%), and supportive counselling (19%). Referrals for legal services (9%), financial support (6%), and health, mental health and addiction treatment (3%) were less common (CCTEHT, 2023a; CCTEHT, 2023b).
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and in over 200 different languages, including 27 Indigenous languages. It can be accessed toll-free by phone at 1-833-900-1010 or online at Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline.
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Section 2: Human trafficking in adult criminal court
The Integrated Criminal Court Survey (ICCS) provides administrative data on human trafficking cases that are processed in Canadian adult criminal and youth courts. The ICCS provides information on court processing times, charge and case decisions, and sentencing outcomes. This section uses ICCS data to present information on human trafficking cases completed between 2011/2012 and 2021/2022 in adult criminal court (for information about youth court, see Text box 5). It is important to note that police-reported data and criminal court data on human trafficking may not fully align since some police-reported incidents may result in charges other than human trafficking pursued in court. Furthermore, since court cases enter the database only when cases are completeNote or deemed complete, timelines for court data may not align with police-reported data.
Over past decade, charges and cases of human trafficking increased
There were 1,066 cases involving 3,523 human trafficking charges completed in adult criminal court between 2011/2012 and 2021/2022 in Canada.Note In general, the number of human trafficking cases has increased over this time. In 2011/2012, there were 21 completed cases that involved at least one human trafficking charge, with a total of 36 charges of human trafficking among these cases. In comparison, there were 139 human trafficking cases with 582 human trafficking charges completed in 2021/2022. In total, there were more than six times as many human trafficking cases and sixteen times as many completed charges in 2021/2022 compared with 2011/2012.
Chart 4 start
Data table for Chart 4
| Year | Charges of human trafficking | Cases with at least one charge of human trafficking |
|---|---|---|
| number | ||
| 2011/2012 | 36 | 21 |
| 2012/2013 | 65 | 28 |
| 2013/2014 | 141 | 45 |
| 2014/2015 | 210 | 82 |
| 2015/2016 | 315 | 103 |
| 2016/2017 | 452 | 129 |
| 2017/2018 | 466 | 140 |
| 2018/2019 | 386 | 115 |
| 2019/2020 | 439 | 136 |
| 2020/2021 | 431 | 128 |
| 2021/2022 | 582 | 139 |
|
Note: Data are based on the adult criminal court portion of the survey where accused were aged 18 and older at the time of offence. Includes Criminal Code charges and cases only, excluding Immigration and Refugee Protection Act offences. A case involves one or more charges against an accused person or company that were processed by the courts at the same time and received a final decision. Data exclude information from superior courts in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as municipal courts in Quebec, due to data availability. Superior court data for Prince Edward Island was included as of 2018/2019. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Integrated Criminal Court Survey. |
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Chart 4 end
In 2021/2022, there was an overall increase in the number of completed human trafficking charges and cases compared to the previous year. More specifically, there was a 9% increase (128 versus 139) in the number of cases and a 35% increase (431 versus 582) in the number of charges in 2021/2022 compared with 2020/2021. This increase in the number of cases and charges may be associated with the challenges on the court system brought on by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which resulted in backlogs and delays in court proceedings in Canada (Department of Justice Canada, 2023; Department of Justice Canada, 2022a).
Human trafficking cases average more charges and take longer to complete than other violent cases
Between 2011/2012 and 2021/2022, human trafficking cases took a median of 398 days to complete, more than twice as long as sex trade cases (170 days) or other violent offenceNote cases (187 days).
During this time, there were an average of 18 charges per completed adult criminal court case that included at least one charge of human trafficking. In comparison, there were fewer charges for other types of violent court cases, such as cases involving at least one charge related to the sex trade (average of 6 charges) or cases with at least one other violent offence charge (average of 4 charges).
More than three-quarters (77%) of the 1,047 multi-charge human trafficking cases also included a sex trade offence, and nearly three in ten included a charge of kidnapping or forcible confinement (28%), or a sexual offence charge (29%).Note Compared to single-charge cases, multi-charge cases may be more complex and generally require more time to complete in court.
One in ten completed human trafficking cases result in a finding of guilt
Between 2011/2012 and 2021/2022, the most serious decisionNote for the large majority (83%) of completed adult criminal court cases involving at least one human trafficking charge was a stay, a withdrawal, a dismissal, or a discharge (Chart 5).Note In comparison, two-thirds (67%) of sex trade cases resulted in these decisions. A small proportion of human trafficking cases resulted in a guilty decisionNote (11%), an acquittal (5%), or another type of decision (1%).Note In contrast, a larger proportion of cases with a sex trade charge (30%) and cases with a violent offence charge (46%) resulted in a guilty decision.
Chart 5 start
Data table for Chart 5
| Type of decision | Cases with at least one charge of human trafficking | Cases with at least one charge related to the sex trade | Cases with at least one violent offence chargeData table for Chart 5 Note 1 |
|---|---|---|---|
| percent | |||
| Guilty | 11 | 30 | 46 |
| Acquitted | 5 | 3 | 6 |
| Stayed, withdrawn, dismissed or discharged | 83 | 67 | 46 |
| OtherData table for Chart 5 Note 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics, Integrated Criminal Court Survey. |
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Chart 5 end
Since 2011/2012, more than three-quarters (78%) of human trafficking cases with a guilty outcome for a human trafficking charge also resulted in a custodial sentence. In comparison, cases involving a sex trade charge or a violent offence charge with a guilty decision less commonly resulted in a custodial sentence (44% and 41%, respectively). The same proportion of human trafficking cases with a guilty outcome for a human trafficking charge resulted in probation (10%) or another type of sentence (10%). Probation was more common for cases involving a sex trade charge or a violent offence charge with a guilty outcome (26% and 42%, respectively).
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Text box 5
Completed human trafficking cases in youth courts in Canada
Since 2011/2012, 5% of completed human trafficking cases involved a youth accused aged 12 to 17. During this period, there were 58 cases involving a human trafficking charge completed in youth court, totaling 125 charges.
All but one of the human trafficking cases completed in youth court were multi-charge cases. Of these 57 cases, 68% included a sex trade charge, 37% included a sexual offence charge and 33% included a charge of kidnapping or forcible confinement.Note
In human trafficking cases where the most serious sentence was associated with a finding of guilt for the human trafficking charge, 50% resulted in a sentence of custody and supervision, 19% deferred custody and supervision,Note 25% probation and 6% involved another type of sentence.
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Summary
Since 2012, there were 3,996 incidents of human trafficking, including Criminal Code and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act offences, reported by police services in Canada. During this time, incidents of human trafficking accounted for 0.02% of all police-reported crime and represented an average annual rate of 1.0 incidents per 100,000 population. The rate of human trafficking decreased from 1.5 incidents per 100,000 population in 2021 to 1.4 in 2022 and there was also a slight decrease in the number of police-reported incidents in 2022 compared to 2021.
Of the 3,103 detected victims of police-reported human trafficking in Canada between 2012 and 2022, the vast majority (94%) were women and girls and were overwhelmingly young, with approximately seven in ten (69%) under the age of 25. The age distribution of male victims of human trafficking was more varied. The large majority (91%) of detected victims of human trafficking knew their accused trafficker and about one-third (34%) of victims were trafficked by an intimate partner.
In 2022, four in ten (40%) incidents of police-reported human trafficking resulted in the laying or recommendation of charges. Over half (56%) of human trafficking incidents were not solved, or cleared, by police. This could be due to several factors, including the incident still being under investigation, insufficient evidence to proceed, or no accused person identified.
The number of human trafficking cases increased between 2011/2012 and 2021/2022. During this time, the most serious decision for the large majority (83%) of completed adult criminal court cases involving at least one human trafficking charge was a stay, a withdrawal, a dismissal, or a discharge.
Detailed data tables
Survey description
Uniform Crime Reporting Survey
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Survey collects detailed information on criminal incidents that have come to the attention of police services in Canada. Information includes characteristics of victims, accused persons and incidents. In 2022, data from police services covered 99% of the population of Canada. The count for a particular year represents incidents reported during that year, regardless of when the incident actually occurred.
One incident can involve multiple offences. In order to ensure comparability, aggregate counts are presented based on the most serious offence in the incident as determined by a standard classification rule used by all police services. For human trafficking,Criminal Code offences reflect the most serious violation against the victim and Immigration and Refugee Protection Act offences reflect the most serious violation in the incident. Where further detail is provided—such as characteristics of incidents, victims and accused persons—microdata from the Incident-based UCR are used, for which police services can report up to four violations for each incident. As such, the human trafficking-related offence may or may not be the most serious violation reported by police for the incident.
Given that small counts of victims and accused persons identified as “non-binary” may exist, the UCR data available to the public has been recoded to assign these counts to either “female” or “male” in order to ensure the protection of confidentiality and privacy. Victims and accused persons identified as non-binary have been assigned to either woman or man based on the regional distribution of victims’ and accused persons’ gender.
Integrated Criminal Court Survey
The Integrated Criminal Court Survey collects statistical information on adult and youth court cases involving Criminal Code and other federal statute offences.
All adult courts have reported to the adult component of the survey since the 2005/2006 fiscal year, with the exception of superior courts in Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan, as well as municipal courts in Quebec. These data were not available for extraction from the provinces' electronic reporting systems and therefore, were not reported to the survey. Superior court data for Prince Edward Island was included as of 2018/2019.
The primary unit of analysis is a case. A case is defined as one or more charges against an accused person or company that were processed by the courts at the same time and received a final decision. A case combines all charges against the same person having one or more key overlapping dates (date of offence, date of initiation, date of first appearance, date of decision or date of sentencing) into a single case.
References
Barrett, N. A. 2013. An assessment of sex trafficking. Canadian Women’s Foundation.
Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT). (2023a). Human trafficking remains a significant challenge in Canada, new data reveals.
Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT). (2023b). Human trafficking trends in Canada: 2019-2022.
Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking (CCTEHT). (2021). Human trafficking corridors in Canada.
Canadian Council for Refugees. 2019. Forced Labour Happens in Canada: The Wasaga/Barrie Case of Mexican Migrant Workers in Canada [Infographic].
Casassa, K., Knight, L., & Mengo, C. (2021). Trauma bonding perspectives from service providers and survivors of sex trafficking: A scoping review. Trauma, Violence & Abuse, 23(3).
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Parliament of Canada. 2018. Moving forward in the fight against human trafficking in Canada. House of Commons. Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights. 42nd Parl., 1st sess.
Public Safety Canada. (2022a). About human trafficking.
Public Safety Canada. (2022b). National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking: 2019-2024
Public Safety Canada. (2022c). National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking: Annual Report 2020-2021.
Statistics Canada. (2022). Table 17-10-0005-01 Population estimates on July 1st, by age and sex. [Data table].
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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC). (2021). Global Report on Trafficking in Persons, 2020.
York Regional Police Press Conference. (2023). Press conference with York Regional Police Deputy Chief Alvaro Almeida: 64 Mexicans rescued from Ontario human labour trafficking ring.
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