Any substantive changes in this Legislative Summary that have been made since the preceding issue are indicated in bold print.
Bill C-56: An Act to amend the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (alternative title: Preventing the Trafficking, Abuse and Exploitation of Vulnerable Immigrants Act) was introduced in the House of Commons on 19 November 2010. Its purpose is to give immigration officers discretion to refuse to authorize foreign nationals to work in Canada if, in their opinion, the foreign national is at risk of being a victim of exploitation or abuse. The bill died on the Order Paper when Parliament was dissolved on 26 March 2011.
Earlier versions of the bill had been introduced on three occasions.
The present Bill C-56 includes an alternative title that was not in Bill C-45, but the substance of the bill is identical to the earlier versions.1
In Canada, the Criminal Code (the Code)2 and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA)3 contain sections to combat and prevent trafficking in persons.
Sections 279.01 to 279.04 of the Code set out three prohibitions in relation to trafficking in persons.
A number of generic provisions in the Criminal Code are also used to combat trafficking in persons by targeting specific forms of exploitation and abuse that are inherent in trafficking. These include fraudulent documentation-related offences; prostitution-related offences; causing physical harm; abduction and confinement; intimidation; conspiracy; and organized crime.
The IRPA also addresses cross-border trafficking in persons.
In May 2006, the Department of Citizenship and Immigration announced a new policy to provide temporary resident permits specifically for trafficked persons. This policy was updated in June 2007.5 Working within the existing legislative framework, immigration officers now have the ability to issue to trafficked persons temporary resident permits lasting up to 180 days. Recipients of such permits are exempt from the processing fee usually charged, may request a work permit and are eligible to receive health service benefits under the Interim Federal Health Program.
This approach has the following objectives:
There is no obligation for the trafficked person to assist with an investigation in exchange for a temporary resident permit.
A trafficked person may also be granted a permit for a longer period or a subsequent temporary resident permit once an immigration officer examines the relevant factors, such as whether it is possible for the individual to return and re-establish a life - under reasonably safe conditions - in his or her country of origin or last permanent residence, and whether the individual is needed and willing to assist the authorities in an investigation or a prosecution. After a certain period, it may be possible for the trafficked person to obtain permanent resident status.
A significant component of the Canadian approach to trafficking in persons is the federal Interdepartmental Working Group on Trafficking in Persons, which is co-chaired by representatives from the departments of Justice and Public Safety and consists of a total of 17 federal departments and agencies. Its mission is to coordinate federal efforts to address trafficking in persons and to develop a federal strategy, in keeping with Canada’s international commitments. The working group reviews existing laws, policies and programs that may have an impact on trafficking with a view to identifying best practices and areas for improvement.6
Since September 2005, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has headed the Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre. The centre is housed at the Immigration and Passport Branch and its role is to provide assistance to field investigators and develop education and awareness campaigns. In March 2010, the centre published a study conducted between 2005 and 2009 in a report entitled Human Trafficking in Canada. One of the first comments in the report is that human trafficking is a growing sector of organized crime worldwide.7
Two parliamentary committees have examined the issue of trafficking in persons in Canada.
In December 2006, the Subcommittee on Solicitation Laws of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Justice and Human Rights released its report, entitled The Challenge of Change: A Study of Canada’s Criminal Prostitution Laws.8 In this broad study of Canada’s laws on prostitution, the subcommittee emphasized the fact that those who traffic in persons must be effectively prosecuted and that law enforcement officials must be provided with adequate resources and training, while victims must be provided with appropriate assistance and services.
In February 2007, the House of Commons Standing Committee on the Status of Women released its report, entitled Turning Outrage Into Action to Address Trafficking for the Purpose of Sexual Exploitation in Canada.9 This report highlighted the “three Ps” approach: protection of victims, prosecution of clients and traffickers, and prevention. The report’s recommendations focused on prevention measures, in particular the development of a strategy to address poverty (with particular emphasis on Aboriginal peoples), removing barriers to immigration, and raising the public’s awareness of the risks of being trafficked.
The committee also emphasized the importance of improving the protection of victims by providing them with support services and programs, including safe interim housing and access to counselling and legal advice, and by revising the temporary resident permit guidelines so that victims can apply for a work permit.
To coordinate Canada’s efforts, the committee proposed the creation of a Canadian Counter-Trafficking Office, through which stakeholders could share expertise and best practices to prevent trafficking, protect victims, and successfully prosecute those who exploit victims. The committee also proposed the establishment of a national rapporteur mandated to collect and analyze human trafficking data and report these annually to Parliament.
When announcing - along with Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul - the introduction of Bill C-56 on behalf of the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Public Works and Government Services Canada and Minister for the Status of Women, said that the bill should help to preclude situations in which women might be exploited or become victims of human trafficking:
This legislation will introduce important legislative changes to help close the doors to the dangerous victimization of girls and women, and we urge Parliament to join us in this serious matter and support the bill. As Canadians, we believe women in all communities should be treated with the full respect and dignity they deserve and oppose situations in which women and girls face violence, abuse or exploitation.10
These situations include the ones experienced by foreign exotic dancers, who may apply for temporary work permits to alleviate a temporary shortage in the Canadian labour market.11 The terms on which exotic dancer visas are issued require that strip club owners have the job offer validated.12 In 2009, for Canada as a whole, this occupational group had the eighth highest incidence of validated offers. The group had a total of 1,836; each validated job offer might cover more than one position.13 As well, starting 11 January 2011, every contract between an employer and an exotic dancer who comes to work temporarily in Canada must contain two new clauses confirming that transportation costs and health care insurance costs are the employer’s responsibility.14
Although foreign exotic dancers had traditionally come to Canada from the United States, by the late 1990s, many more were from Eastern Europe. It was at that time that concerns about human trafficking began to emerge. For that reason, immigration officers working at foreign missions require applicants for exotic dancer visas to present a valid employment contract; they then verify that the employer is legitimate. The officers are trained to detect and screen out applicants who may be potential victims of human trafficking. They also apply health and safety criteria and ensure that arrangements have been made for the applicants to return to their country of origin once the visa has expired, as in the case of any other temporary worker.15
Between 2004 and 2007, the number of permits granted to foreign exotic dancers in Canada seems to have declined dramatically. According to information provided by the Department of Citizenship and Immigration, 342 work permits and work permit extensions were issued to foreign exotic dancers in 2004, but that number dropped to 17 in 200616 and stood at six in 2010.17
Clause 1 sets out the alternative title of the bill: Preventing the Trafficking, Abuse and Exploitation of Vulnerable Immigrants Act.
Clauses 3 and 4 of the bill amend the IRPA to allow immigration officers to refuse to authorize foreign nationals to work in Canada if they believe them to be at risk of exploitation.
Clause 3 of the bill adds a new provision to the IRPA. Section 30(1.1) states that an immigration officer “may” authorize a foreign national to come to work or study in Canada if the applicant meets the conditions set out in the regulations. This gives immigration officers discretion to refuse to authorize an applicant to work or study in Canada, even if the applicant meets the conditions set out in the regulations.
Clause 3 also adds sections 30(1.2) to 30(1.7) to the IRPA.
Section 30(1.2) states that an officer must refuse to authorize a foreign national to work in Canada if he or she believes that the public policy considerations, set out in instructions from the minister, justify such a refusal. This discretionary power is somewhat limited by section 30(1.3), which states that any refusal to give authorization to work in Canada requires the concurrence of a second officer.
Section 30(1.4) states that the minister’s instructions will set out what constitutes the public policy considerations and that they will aim to protect foreign nationals who are at risk of being subjected to humiliating or degrading treatment, particularly sexual exploitation.
Sections 30(1.5) to 30(1.7) state that the ministerial instructions will be published in the Canada Gazette. They will take effect on the day on which they are published (or on any later specified date). Once they are in force, they will also apply to all applications for work permits made before that day and for which a final decision has not been made. The instructions will cease to have effect when a notice of revocation is published in the Canada Gazette.
Clause 4 of the bill amends subsection 94(2) of the Act to require the minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism to include the ministerial instructions in the annual report to Parliament.
It is important to note that this is the only place in the IRPA where the ministerial instructions are referred to in this detailed manner. Although ministerial instructions on a variety of issues are referenced elsewhere, this is the only section to establish explicit and detailed requirements as to how those instructions must be published and included in the annual report. This amendment increases the accountability that comes with the implementation of the instructions and any potential refusal of temporary work permits based on an assessed risk of exploitation.
Clause 2 of the bill amends the objectives of the IRPA with respect to immigration by adding the word “public” to the reference to the protection of health and safety currently specified in section 3(1)(h) of the IRPA. The amended IRPA is intended to protect public health and safety and maintain the security of Canadian society in immigration matters.
Sections 31 and 33 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations 18 already used that terminology to explain potential dangers to public health if a foreign national suffered from a communicable disease and to public safety if a foreign national’s health made the person likely to engage in violent behaviour, for example.
It is important to note that Bill C-56 amends only section 3(1), which deals with the objectives of the IRPA with respect to immigration. Section 3(2), concerning the Act’s objectives with respect to refugees, and which states that it aims to “protect the health and safety of Canadians,” remains unchanged.
* Notice: For clarity of exposition, the legislative proposals set out in the bill described in this Legislative Summary are stated as if they had already been adopted or were in force. It is important to note, however, that bills may be amended during their consideration by the House of Commons and Senate, and have no force or effect unless and until they are passed by both houses of Parliament, receive Royal Assent, and come into force. [ Return to text ]
Every person who recruits, transports, transfers, receives, holds, conceals or harbours a person, or exercises control, direction or influence over the movements of a person, for the purpose of exploiting them or facilitating their exploitation is guilty of an indictable offence and liable
- to imprisonment for life if they kidnap, commit an aggravated assault or aggravated sexual assault against, or cause death to, the victim during the commission of the offence; or
- to imprisonment for a term of not more than fourteen years in any other case. [ Return to text ]
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