Halifax, Guelph and Thunder Bay had highest rates of human trafficking in 2024: StatsCan

canadian river cities of Halifax, Guelph, Ont., and boom quest, Ont., had the highest rates of police-reported human trafficking per capita endure yr, according to a new report from Statistics Canada.

In 2024, Guelph had the highest rate of human trafficking reported by police services, with 11 incidents per 100,000 people, followed by Halifax at 7.5 and then Thunder Bay with 6.1.

These all significantly exceeded the overall rate for census metropolitan areas, which was 1.6 incidents per 100,000 in 2024.

Danielle Sutton-Preddie, an analyst with the Canadian Centre for Justice and Community Safety Statistics who authored the report, said the data was collected from police forces, which doesn't reflect the true number of human trafficking cases in Canada.

“Human trafficking is often hidden and victims may be reluctant to come forward,” said Sutton-Preddie. 

She said even in cases that are reported to police, there may be some undercounting due to differences in how police detachments report that data.

“Police can report up to four violations per incident within the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey, but they're only required to report the most serious offences," she said. "So some police services may only report the most serious, and it may not necessarily be human trafficking."

Sutton-Preddie said the exact number of victims and accused traffickers is tricky to pinpoint, since there are instances where people function as both.

The report says oftentimes accused traffickers “may have once been victims themselves, could remain under the control of traffickers, and may have limited roles in the enterprise,” such as in recruiting more victims.

Sutton-Preddie said the 2024 numbers are still subject to changes as many police investigations on this are still ongoing.  

Among the provinces, Nova Scotia recorded the highest rate of incidents in 2024, with 4.5 per 100,000 people, exceeding the national rate of 1.5.

Four other provinces also exceeded the national rate, including Ontario (2.3), Prince Edward Island (2.8), New Brunswick (2.0) and Saskatchewan (1.9).

The report, which cites a study by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, attributes Ontario's high figures to its large population and the presence of several major transit points, including multiple border crossings, Highway 401 and airports.

As for Nova Scotia, the report says the province's high rate can be attributed to its coastal location and the fact that it "serves as a key node in a human trafficking corridor that facilitates the movement of victims.”

Sgt. Jeffrey MacFarlane, manager of the provincial human trafficking unit of the Nova Scotia RCMP, says the province's high numbers can also be linked to better awareness and more options for reporting these cases.

“We believe that in Nova Scotia, we have a connection with the public and the people that are victimized in these crimes, they can call us maybe more than they can in other areas,” MacFarlane said. 

The report also notes that police-reported human trafficking has declined by 44 per cent in Nova Scotia since its peak in 2020.

However, the 2024 data is in line with the trend observed over the past decade, with Nova Scotia and Ontario recording the highest annual rates of police-reported human trafficking, most of which are from metropolitan areas.

“In larger centres, there's more clientele and more people interested in obtaining the services of someone who's in the sex trade,” MacFarlane said.

Women and girls are more likely to be victims, making up over 90 per cent of victims in the last decade.

Danielle Hodges, chief operating officer at the YWCA in Halifax, said her organization works directly with victims of human trafficking.

She said in many cases, people are unaware they are being victimized, which means they may not seek resources right away.

It can begin subtly, she said, with the promise of earning money quickly or a new relationship, and once it intensifies, it can be difficult to get out of.

“It may take a couple of times to find the support that [victims] need. The right type of support that fits their unique needs,” she said, noting that housing, employment, education and counselling are all important in these cases.

Hodges, who is a social worker, said victims may also struggle with repeating their story to different resources to get help, which can be re-traumatizing.

She also said if a victim is not in a stable financial position, it may be harder for them to leave. 

“I want people to know it can happen to anyone,” she said. “It is the vulnerability of individuals that is often taken advantage of.”

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Giuliana is a journalist originally from Lima, Peru. She is interested in stories about rural Nova Scotia, science, the environment and more. If you have any story tips, you can reach her at giuliana.grillo.de.lambarri@cbc.ca.

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