OTTAWA – Leon Benoit, Member of Parliament for Vegreville-Wainwright, was proud to vote in favour of Bill C-268 which will enact stiffer sentences for child trafficking. “It was great to see the House of Commons vote overwhelmingly in favour of my colleague’s bill,” states Benoit, “which came about as a result of increasing concerns about child sex trafficking in Canada.” 

Bill C-268 was adopted by the House of Commons after third reading last week, with a vote of 239 in favour, and 46 opposed. It now moves to the Senate, which must approve it before it can be proclaimed into law.

“It was an honour to stand with 238 Members of Parliament and vote to take a stand against child trafficking and to bring dignity to the victims of child trafficking,” states Benoit. “Unfortunately, 46 Members of Parliament – 43 Bloc and three NDP MPs - chose to vote against hope for victims.”

Benoit wasn’t the only one appalled by the opposition to C-268. Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu, founder of Murdered or Missing Persons' Families' Association (MMPFA) said, “Voting against this Bill will be detrimental to Quebec and the victims of criminal acts.  The Bloc’s position suggests that attacking children is not serious and should not be subject to severe sentences.”

Bill C-268 imposes a five year mandatory minimum sentence, rising to up to 14 years, for trafficking in persons under 18 years of age. The penalties increase further if the child victim is also subjected to an aggravated sexual assault, forcible confinement, kidnapping or is killed, with a six year mandatory minimum and up to life imprisonment.

The legislation was drafted after a series of abysmal sentences in recent child trafficking cases in Ontario and Quebec – in one case the trafficker spent just a single day in prison upon conviction, after being given 2 for 1 credit for time served. Police officers trying to protect child victims were very concerned.

 “As a recent Criminal Intelligence Report outlines, organized crime networks are actively trafficking Canadian-born women and under-age girls inter and intra-provincially, and in some instances to the United States, destined for the sex trade,” explains Benoit.

Other Canadians reflected on the passage of C-268 as fundamental to affirming Canada’s position towards child trafficking.

“This is certainly a great moment where together as Canadians we stand for children, sending a clear message that we will never tolerate their trafficking,” said former Quebec youth judge, Andree Ruffo.

“I trust that the Senate will see the importance of passing this legislation, and deal with it as quickly as possible – not play partisan games and delay as they have done with our justice bills in the past,” cautioned Benoit. “Protecting children is not a game, it is our obligation.”