Research and Reports

Calls to the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline reached an all-time high in 2024, with more than 5,100 calls received. In addition, labour trafficking cases identified by the hotline surged by over 300 per cent compared to the 2020–2022 average, while sex trafficking continued to account for about 70 per cent of all cases.

Drawing on five years of hotline data, the report paints a clear picture of a country still struggling to confront a complex and evolving issue. It reveals that no region is untouched by human trafficking — from large urban centres to small and rural communities — and underscores the urgent need for coordinated prevention efforts and trauma-informed supports for victims and survivors.

Research from the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking and the FCJ Refugee Centre found that migrant workers in Canada faced significant risks of labour exploitation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Drawing on focus group discussions with 77 migrant workers in Ontario, the report showed how temporary and precarious immigration status — combined with employer discrimination, unsafe working conditions, and gaps in government policy — created conditions that left workers vulnerable to abuse.

Participants described family separation, low wages, and limited access to health care as persistent challenges. Many were unaware of their labour rights upon arriving in Canada, and some were shocked to experience exploitation they thought they had escaped.

The report called for stronger federal and provincial safeguards to protect migrant workers, including open work permits, greater access to information, and increased on-site social supports.

Between 2019 and 2022, the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline identified 1,500 cases of human trafficking across Canada, supporting more than 2,100 victims and survivors. Drawing on over 12,000 calls, this report offers a detailed look at where and how trafficking occurs.

Most cases were reported in large urban centres, with concentrations in Ontario, Alberta, British Columbia, and Quebec. Housing and shelter were the most frequently requested supports, followed by case management and counselling.

The findings revealed deep gaps in Canada’s social safety net. Service providers were stretched thin, and access to help remained uneven across the country. The report called for coordinated investment to ensure survivors can rebuild their lives with safety and dignity.

Data gathered during the first year of the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline’s operations showed that sex trafficking in Canada was overwhelmingly a gender-based crime, with women and girls accounting for 90 per cent of identified survivors. The report also found that transgender and gender-diverse people experienced trafficking at disproportionately higher rates relative to their population.

Drawing on non-attributable hotline data rather than police statistics, the report identified six national trends and examined how the COVID-19 pandemic compounded service gaps. Many frontline agencies were forced to reduce hours, move online, or suspend operations, making it harder for survivors to access critical supports.

The findings underscored the importance of strong community networks and adequately funded services. Family members, friends, and service providers all play a vital role in helping victims and survivors exit trafficking and begin to heal.

Research from the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking found that organized trafficking networks exploited well-established transportation routes across Canada to move victims between cities and provinces. These “corridors” enabled traffickers to maximize profits, avoid detection, and maintain control over victims through constant relocation.

The report revealed that nearly half of all victims and survivors were trafficked within their own province. Frequent movement left them disoriented and isolated, making it harder to seek help or trust service providers. Frontline agencies described the complex, overlapping needs of survivors — from housing and health care to addiction treatment and trauma recovery — and emphasized the need for coordinated, long-term support.

The Centre called on all levels of government to adopt a national, interjurisdictional approach to end human trafficking and strengthen services for victims and survivors.