Opposing Serious Penalties for Traffickers of Children ‘Unacceptable’

Ottawa, ON:  Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright was angered by the actions of the Bloc Quebecois last week. “After Bill C-268, An Act to amend the Criminal Code (minimum sentence for offences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen years),  made its way through 1st and 2nd readings in the House, consideration by the Justice and Human Rights Committee and is now down to the last two hours of debate, the Bloc introduces a motion to delete Clause 2!”, states Benoit. “They claim to suddenly have a problem with the thought of establishing mandatory sentences for the trafficking of children.”

Bill C-268 introduced by Conservative MP Joy Smith, contains amendments to the Criminal Code that would provide a minimum sentence of six years for child trafficking involving aggravated factors such as sexual assault or causing death and a minimum of five years for all other cases of child trafficking. 

Benoit points out that the Bill received near unanimous support from Conservative, Liberal and NDP MPs during a vote at Second Reading on April 22, 2009. However, with one honourable exception, the Bloc Québécois opposed Bill C-268.

“I was frustrated to hear Bloc Québécois MP Real Menard claim ‘the Bloc Québécois positions are consistent. We have never been comfortable with mandatory minimum sentences,’” says Benoit. “Actually, the truth is that they are not being consistent. In fact, in 2005, the Bloc Québécois supported mandatory minimums for sexual offences against children and even moved motions to implement mandatory minimums, which were very much appreciated by myself and my colleagues. To be truly consistent, I would expect the Bloc to continue to support mandatory minimums for the exploitation of children.”

“Not surprisingly, Bill C-268 has received strong support across Canada from law enforcement, victim service organizations, NGOs, and First Nations,” explains Benoit. “Strong support for this has especially come from Quebec. Strangely though, the Bloc remains the sole organization and entity in Canada that has voiced opposition to this legislation.”

Benoit went on to clarify that the international community has also called for Canada to enact mandatory minimums for child trafficking. Last October, the Report of the Canada-U.S. Consultation in Preparation for the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents urged Canada to enact a mandatory minimum penalty for child trafficking.

 “The continued opposition of the Bloc Québécois to mandatory sentences for the trafficking of minors is not only reprehensible; it is unacceptable in our country,” said Benoit. “To openly oppose serious penalties for those who sell and abuse the bodies of minors doesn’t just suggest approval for this horrific abuse. It virtually endorses this horrific form of exploitation.”