After a long battle, Bill C-268, An Act to amend to the Criminal Code (minimum sentence for offences involving trafficking of persons under the age of eighteen years), has been passed into law.

This new legislation aims to crack down on the trafficking of children by imposing a minimum sentence of five years imprisonment for anyone convicted of trafficking a minor in Canada. This minimum sentence increases to six years for cases with aggravating factors.

This bill, first introduced in January 2009 by Joy Smith, Member of Parliament for Kildonan-St. Paul, has received widespread support from both Conservative and Liberal MPs, as well as most NDP members.

The passage of this bill is significant, as it is the first and only Private Members’ Bill to be passed by Parliament since the last election in 2008.

This illustrates what an important issue child trafficking is, and this government’s commitment to bringing justice upon those found guilty of trafficking minors in this country.

Prior to the passing of this bill, there were many cases where offenders were convicted of human trafficking involving minors and received insignificant sentences. One such instance is that of Michael Lennox Mark, who was convicted in 2008 for selling a 17-year-old girl for sex. His sentence was a mere two years in jail, but he was free one week after his conviction due to the credit of pre-trial custody.

It is imperative to send a message to these criminals that their actions are not acceptable and will not be tolerated. Many people are hurt by such crimes and those responsible deserve to feel the full weight of their actions.

With the passing of this bill, Canada joins the international community in its commitment to combating human trafficking. In the United States, the minimum sentence for someone convicted of trafficking a minor is ten years, while in India it is seven years, and five years in Thailand.

Bill C-268 marks an important step in addressing the problem of human trafficking in our nation. However, much still needs to be done to combat this horrible crime.

It is important to move forward in developing a comprehensive national plan that addresses the multifaceted aspects of this crime and focuses on prevention initiatives, greater protection and rehabilitation for victims, and partnerships with frontline organizations.

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