Letters to Federal Government
I have regularly written to the federal government to advocate for victims and survivors of human trafficking and exploitation. Unfortunately, only a few ministers take the time to reply.
Here is a list of recent letters I written or co-written along with replies.
2022 10 20 – Letter to Minister Lametti regarding analysis of Justice Committee’s study of PCEPA
2022 09 21 – Letter to Minister Rodriguez regarding the Online Harms Bill
- Focus: Highlights lack of action to protect women and youth from companies like MindGeek. Calls for immediate legislation to tackle CSAM and Non-Consensual Sharing of Intimate Images as well as implementing the 14 Recommendations of the Ethics Committee Report on Pornhub.
- Response: None to Date
2022 08 30 – Letter to Ministers Fraser and Qualtrough regarding TFW permits for massage therapy
- Focus: Concerned that the use of title ‘massage therapist’ is a way to get around the current (IRCC) ministerial instructions, which aim to protect applicants from exploitative industries.
- Response: Nov 3, 2022 – Letter from Minister Fraser
2022 08 17 – Letter to Minister Mendicino regarding human trafficking survivor advisory group
- Focus: The 2019 National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking contained a promise to establish a Survivor-led Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking. Asked if Survivor-led Advisory Committee on Human Trafficking has been launched? If not, what is the expected date it will be launched?
- Response: None to date
2022 06 21 – Letter to Minister Joly regarding risk of exploitation to Ukrainian refugees
- Focus: Following a question in the House of Commons in regard to Ukraine and the increase in sex trafficking of women and girls, I wrote to the Minister asking what specific steps Canada has been taking to ensure that Ukrainian women and youth seeking refuge in Canada are not being trafficked or exploited as well as efforts to tackle the demand side.
- Response: None to date
2021 12 21 – Letter to Ministers Rodriguez, Gould, & Ien regarding impact of pornography
- Focus: Shared a study commissioned by the United Kingdom’s Government Equalities Office entitled ‘The relationship between pornography and harmful sexual behaviours’ (February, 2020). Urged federal government to take key steps to protect women and girls from sexual violence.
- Response: None to date
2021 11 25 – Letter to Minister Lametti regarding coercive control, human trafficking
- Focus: Asking the Minister of Justice to support Bill C-202 or introduce government legislation.
- Response: None to date
2021 03 15 – Joint Letter to RCMP Commissioner regarding MindGeek/Pornhub
- Focus: Joint letter from over 70 MPs and Senators supporting voices of survivors calling on RCMP Commissioner to investigate MindGeek/Pornhub over sexual exploitation, sex trafficking and child abuse.
- Response: April 13, 2021 – Letter from RCMP Commissioner Lucki
2021 02 22 – Joint Letter to Minister Monsef regarding MindGeek, pornography, & feminism
- Focus: Letter from the co-chairs of the All-Party Parliamentary Group to End Modern Slavery and Human Trafficking asking Minister Monsef to speak out on this issue.
- Response: None to date
2020 11 25 – Joint Letter to Minister Lametti regarding MindGeek/Pornhub
- Focus: Joint letter from over 20 MPs and Senators alerting the Justice Minister to content featuring victims of child sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and sexual assault being published on MindGeek/Pornhub and calling for immediate action.
- Response: 2021 01 21 – Letter from Minister Lametti
2020 03 09 – Joint Letter to Prime Minister Trudeau regarding MindGeek/Pornhub
- Focus: Joint letter from 9 MPs and Senators alerting the Prime Minister Trudeau to content featuring victims of child sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and sexual assault being published on MindGeek/Pornhub and calling for immediate action.
- Response: None to date