Tip of the iceberg’: Human trafficking in Canada much worse than stats show

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How widespread is human trafficking in Canada? Two new reports offer the clearest evidence yet.

According to Statistics Canada, more than 5,000 incidents of human trafficking were reported to police between 2014 and 2024, for a national average of 1.2 per 100,000 people. Among the provinces and territories, Ontario recorded the second-highest rate.

The StatsCan analysis comes on the heels of another alarming report from The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, which revealed that annual calls to its hotline reached an all-time high. In 2024, the centre fielded more than 5,100 calls from victims, survivors and others affected by human trafficking — an average of 14 calls every day.

Joining us on tonight’s Closer Look to talk about the latest numbers, what they reveal — and what more can be done to help victims — is Julia Drydyk, executive director of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking.

More information about the hotline (1-833-900-1010) can be found HERE.

Hosted by Village Media’s Michael Friscolanti and Scott Sexsmith, and produced by Derek Turner, Closer Look is a new daily podcast that goes way beyond the headlines with insightful, in-depth conversations featuring our reporters and editors, leading experts, key stakeholders and big newsmakers.

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