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Cash seized from human traffickers will support victims and raise awareness

Changes to the Civil Remedies Act passed under the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act allow personal property, such as cash or cars used by criminals for illegal activities, to be forfeited without a court order
Human Trafficking
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The Ontario government is spending $2.5 million in cash and proceeds seized from criminals to help fight human trafficking in communities across the province.

Funding through the Civil Remedies Grant Program is being made available to law enforcement agencies and community partners for 33 local projects focused on prevention, crisis counselling, research, and public education.

"We are fighting back against human traffickers by investing in training, surveillance technology and equipment to help local police and prosecutors crackdown on the criminal networks that prey on and profit from young and vulnerable people in our communities," said Attorney General Doug Downey. "These community-based projects will strengthen local capacity to prevent and respond to these heinous crimes while supporting survivors."

The initiatives being funded under the Civil Remedies Grant Program this year include:

  • Programs supporting victims of human trafficking, including mental health crisis services, specialized care and support, and education and training opportunities.
  • Training for frontline officers to help them better detect and investigate human trafficking.
  • IT upgrades to improve investigations of online crimes like child exploitation, harassment, intimate images, and fraud.
  • Investments in surveillance equipment such as automatic licence plate readers to identify and locate vehicles connected to illegal activity across Ontario's major highways including remote First Nation communities.

"We agree with law-abiding citizens who say crime should not pay and we have made it harder for criminals to hold onto the proceeds of their crimes through the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act, which was passed by the legislature earlier this year," said Downey. 

Applications for the 2021-22 Civil Remedies Grant Program open November 3. The list of eligible applicants includes Ontario and First Nation Police Services, not-for-profit groups, community agencies, and Indigenous communities and organizations that assist victims of unlawful activities or prevent unlawful activities that result in victimization. The deadline to apply is December 15..

Changes to the Civil Remedies Act passed under the Smarter and Stronger Justice Act allow personal property, such as cash or cars used by criminals for illegal activities, to be forfeited without a court order in cases where no interested person disputes the forfeiture.