Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
Every Friday, Murray Wood takes a look at the week's news and decides who's hot... and who's not. This week's list inclu...
A new law introduced at the provincial legislative building Wednesday aims to protect human trafficking victims and could even allow them to sue those who have harmed them.
The legislation, called The Protection From Human Trafficking Act, will make it easier for victims to get a protection order against their traffickers. That would bar them from being contacted in any way. The bill also includes potential fines, drivers licence suspensions, and jail terms if the order is violated.
“Human trafficking is a monstrous crime that robs victims, often women and children, of their normal lives and of their freedom, forcing them into an existence akin to modern-day slavery,” Justice Minister and Attorney General Gordon Wyant said in a media release. “This Act will improve safety options for survivors, while also increasingly the accountability of traffickers.”
Other provisions included in the law are the ability for victims to sue their traffickers to seek payment for the harm done to them and making it easier for police to search homes or vehicles where victims could be held.
The government says the legislation will be consistent with what’s on the books in other provinces, including Ontario, Manitoba and Alberta. Consultations were done with community-based organizations and police services before drafting the law.
