Alberta targets human trafficking with task force budget boost | Edmonton Journal
The Alberta government is increasing funding to fight human trafficking, setting aside $22.8 million over four years.
The money will go towards implementing recommendations from the Human Trafficking Task Force that was appointed under former Premier Jason Kenney's government in May of 2020 and chaired by country music singer Paul Brandt.
According to budget documents, the money will also go towards establishing an Alberta office to combat trafficking in persons, a centre of excellence for research and data collection, and offering a new grant for co-ordinated community support.
The task force heard from nearly 100 experts and survivors before making five recommendations last March that included better access to victims' services and universally branded and consistent awareness, education and training.
Last October, the government budgeted $20 million for implementing those recommendations, though the current progress towards those is unclear.
Brandt did not respond to a request for comment by publication time.
Justice and public safety were among the spending priorities in Finance Minister Travis Toews' budget, including $27 million in funding for 245 new sheriffs.
The Alberta Law Enforcement Response Teams (ALERT) also saw a small funding bump in Tuesday's budget.
It received approximately $100,000 to fund a safety network co-ordinator position within ALERT.
Agency spokesman Mike Tucker said the position previously existed, but its funding was “a bit tenuous and a compilation of several grants.”
He said safety network co-ordinators work with survivors by helping remove barriers towards exiting the sex industry, safety planning, and facilitating access to community support services.
Tucker said the agency is still learning more about how the latest provincial budget will impact ALERT and its operations.
ALERT was formed in 2006 and draws members from the Alberta Sheriffs Branch and RCMP as well as from local police forces in Calgary, Edmonton, Lethbridge and Medicine Hat.
Twitter @ByMatthewBlack
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This “Eyes on Trafficking” story is reprinted from its original online location.
ABOUT PBJ LEARNING
PBJ Learning is a leading provider of online human trafficking training, focusing on awareness and prevention education. Their interactive Human Trafficking Essentials online course is used worldwide to educate professionals and individuals how to recognize human trafficking and how to respond to potential victims. Learn on any web browser (even your mobile phone) at any time.
More stories like this can be found in your PBJ Learning Knowledge Vault.