The province is fighting people who use hotels and taxis for human trafficking.
If passed, a new law will require hotels and Airbnb to maintain a customer registry with all names and addresses. The police will have access to information from the register with a court order. In emergencies, if investigators believe that a victim of trafficking in human beings is in danger or their lives are in danger, they may request the relevant parts of the register.
The bill was introduced by Manitoba Family Minister Rochelle Squires.
“This will be another tool the police will have that will allow them to obtain information about the perpetrator,” Squires said.
The province says about 400 children and young people are trafficked annually in prominent places in Manitoba. But he said this was only a small part of the illegal trade, which took place privately and online.
Diane Redski of the Ma Maui Vi Chi Itata Center welcomed the proposed law.
“These are places where you have a room and a bed, people come and go,” Redski said.
She said human traffickers used hotel rooms and temporary accommodation to sexually exploit women and girls behind closed doors. Redski said cash is sometimes used so there is no paper trail. The registry will change this, as customers will need to provide their ID number and address.
“Criminals rely on these places as places to sneak in,” Redski said.
Maximum non-compliance fines for individuals and corporations range from a maximum of $ 5,000 to $ 100,000.
Manitoba Hotel Association President Scott Jocelyn said hotels already have the necessary records.
“I don’t think it’s going to be cumbersome, we want to be part of the solution,” Jocelyn said.
The law will also require hotels, Airbnb and taxi and carpool drivers to report trafficking to police. The association, which represents taxi drivers, says it supports this.
“We will work very closely with the sectors and raise awareness and ensure that they know who to call,” said Minister Squires.
There may be some opposition to the legislation. On Friday afternoon, the Manitoba Chiefs’ Assembly issued a statement raising potential concerns about the proposed law.
“We hope that with such legislation, it will not become an excuse to step up policing of children and young people of the first nations and that the focus is on individuals and systems that create these violent conditions that harm our families.” said the Regional Assembly of the First Nations. Chef Cindy Woodhouse.
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