Bill C-268 - Everyone READ, and CANADIANS, please TAKE HEED . . .

Everyone READ, and CANADIANS, please take heed and write to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology (all info is included in this note). 

I am forwarding a message from Member of Parliament for Kildonan, Manitoba, Canada, Joy Smith - http://joysmith.ca/ - regarding her Bill C-268 - http://joysmith.ca/main.asp?fxoid=FXMenu,7&cat_ID=27&sub_ID=96 - going to the Senate Committee Hearing later this month (falling on Jessie's 26th birthday, May 27th. Ironic? No, I think it is fitting). 

Mrs. Smith is very active in bringing awareness and putting a stop to, Human Trafficking -http://joysmith.ca/main.asp?cat_ID=27 - and she has submitted my name to be one of the citizens of Canada to testify at this hearing. We will know soon if I will be one of the people chosen, but if not, I plan on attending anyways. At the very least, I will be in the audience, listening intently - and afterwards, I will be speaking to the media about human trafficking; what happens to victims; and what the families go through. 

The least - THE VERY LEAST we should get, after all that, is to know that the people who have done this to others, the kidnappers, the HUMAN TRAFFICKERS have a Mandatory Minimum Sentence that they will be forced to serve. Right now, this bill is for victims under the age of 19 - personally believe, even though I have an adult child who is a human trafficking victim, that we have to start with the children. I also believe that once this law is in place, there will be others directed to the adult victims - I keep saying victims, I should be saying SURVIVORS. 

Please, all the people in the media who have been following and writing about Jessie's case, please help me keep Jessie's case in the minds of all and do an article about Jessie for her birthday. This year, 4 years into her disappearance, so much has happened - forensic artist Diana Trepkov's drawings; the human trafficking organization naming their award after us - THE GLENDENE & JESSIE FOSTER AWARD, given to those who work with trafficking survivors- going over and above their 'call of duty' in their jobs. Three books coming out this year . . . there is so much that people have not been told about yet, and I know that there are thousands of people who are very interested in Jessie's case, because they know, THERE, BUT FOR THE GRACE OF GOD, GO I (or my daughter, son, grandchild . . . ). Jessie is loved by so many people - I get messages daily, sometimes hourly . . . still, over 4 years later, telling me how much Jessie's case has touched them. 

Sincerely, Jessie Foster's mom, Glendene Grant. 
Please check it out our website below; then check back for updates. Thank you. 
Official website for missing JESSIE FOSTER, kidnapping / human trafficking victim - http://www.jessiefoster.ca/ 


From: SmithJ8@parl.gc.ca 
Sent: Thursday, May 13, 2010 2:07 PM
Subject: Bill C-268


"Most importantly, more and more Canadians are becoming aware of human trafficking and its increasing presence in Canada, especially as a result of the courage of survivors of human trafficking."

Good afternoon, 

I am delighted to provide you with an update on Bill C-268. 

Bill C-268 at Senate Committee

Bill C-268 has now passed Second Reading in the Senate and has been sent to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. It will be reviewed by the Senate Committee on May 26-27 and June 2, 2010. Following review by the Senate Committee, Bill C-268 will be considered by the Senate at Third Reading.

It is essential that Senate pass Bill C-268 – without amendment – before Parliament rises for the summer. In order to facilitate this, Senators need to hear from Canadians across Canada that Bill C-268 must be passed as soon as it returns from Committee. 

Please consider writing to Senators for their support. (Please note that Senators rarely read form letters/emails however they appreciate and read personalized letters/emails.) 

Your voice can make a difference and result in strong protection for victims of child trafficking this summer. 

I have attached an Action List that will help you contact the members of the Senate Committee or, if you are an organization, instructions on how to submit a statement to the Clerk of the Committee. 

Finally, I want to thank you for your continued support for my work and efforts to raise awareness about human trafficking at the federal level. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact me with any questions or comments you have. 

Sincerely, 

Joy Smith, MP - http://joysmith.ca/ 
Kildonan – St. Paul
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Bill C-268: Protecting Our Children 

Current Status of Bill C-268 

- On April 21, 2010, Bill C-268 passed Second Reading in the Senate and was sent to the Senate Standing Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology. 
- The Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology will be reviewing Bill C-268 on May 26, 27, and June 2, 2010. 
- There are a few Senators who intend on amending Bill C-268 with unnecessary and detrimental changes. This would delay the Bill, requiring it to be sent back to the House of Commons. 
- A vote on C-268 on September 30, 2009 has demonstrated that Bill C-268 is strongly supported by the large majority of MPs. Conservative and Liberal MPs, and most members of the NDP voted to pass Bill C-268 in its current form and send it to the Senate. 

Action 

You can help by:

1. Writing to the members of the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology asking them to review and pass Bill C-268 without amendment.
2. Writing to the Senate leaders of each party asking them to make the passage of Bill C-268 a priority at Third Reading in the Senate.
3.Writing a letter to a local or national newspaper about human trafficking in Canada and C-268.
4. Sign a petition supporting Bill C-268. Thousands of signatures have been presented in the House of Commons and the Senate. Each time a petition is presented, Senators are reminded of the urgency of passing this important Bill. 
5. Encourage others to take action.

Writing Letters/Emails 

Feel free to use the points listed in the background. Below are some helpful tips: 

- Keep letters/emails short and to the point. 
- Be polite and courteous. 
- Try to write in your own words. Show the Senator that you are a real person. 
- Use bullet points to highlight your arguments. 
- Include supporting facts to back up your case. 
- Do ask for a reply.


Additional Key Points on Bill C-268

- Law enforcement, victims’ services, the First Nations community, and religious and secular NGO’s have urged for this legislation to be passed as soon as possible. A full list of organizations can be found on http://www.joysmith.ca. 
- Article 3(3) of the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Rights of the Child on the sale of children, child prostitution and child pornography states: “Each State Party shall make such offences punishable by appropriate penalties that take into account their grave nature.” Currently, Section 279.01 of Canada’s Criminal Code (trafficking in persons) fails to satisfy this obligation. 
- In Canada, with no minimum sentences, traffickers of children could receive as little as no time in jail! 
- In April 2009, the Citizens’ Summit on Human Trafficking at the 2010 Olympics and Beyond produced a declaration that proposed many crucial recommendations. Among them, that ‘Canada’s Criminal Code reflect the fact that the crime of human trafficking should carry meaningful penalties.’ 
- In October 2008, the Report of the Canada-U.S. Consultation in Preparation for the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents recommended that Canada enact a mandatory minimum penalty for child trafficking. 
- Imani Nakpangi, the first person in Canada convicted of human trafficking involving a minor, received a three year sentence for the trafficking of a 15 year old girl but was credited 13 months for pre-trial custody. He made over $350,000 sexually exploiting her over two years before she was able to escape. Essentially he will spend less time in jail for this crime than he did exploiting her. 
- Last year, Montreal resident Michael Lennox Mark received a two-year sentence, but with double credit for the year served before his trial, the man who horrifically victimized a 17-year-old girl over two years spent only a week in jail after his conviction. 
- The Chief of the Peel Regional Police, who have investigated a large number of cases in Canada, recently wrote “Efforts by police officers across Canada to enforce this law are impressive, yet they are overshadowed by the disturbing number of occurrences that involve victims under the age of 18…. Establishing minimum sentences, as proposed by Bill C-268, would raise the law’s deterrent goal, and highlight society’s abhorrence of crimes that involve child victims.” 

Contacts 

Senators on the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology 

- Chair Art Eggleton egglea@sen.parl.gc.ca Liberal
- Deputy Chair Kelvin Kenneth Ogilvie ogilvk@sen.parl.gc.ca Conservative
- Member Catherine S. Callbeck callbc@sen.parl.gc.ca Liberal
- Member Andrée Champagne champa@sen.parl.gc.ca Conservative
- Member Jane Cordy cordyj@sen.parl.gc.ca Liberal
- Member Jacques Demers tessil@sen.parl.gc.ca Conservative
- Member Lillian Eva Dyck dyckli@sen.parl.gc.ca Liberal
- Member Nicole Eaton eatonn@sen.parl.gc.ca Conservative
- Member Yonah Martin martin@sen.parl.gc.ca Conservative
- Member Pana Merchant merchp@sen.parl.gc.ca Liberal
- Member Judith Seidman seidmj@sen.parl.gc.ca Conservative 


Letters can be mailed to: 

[Senator’s name], Senator 
Senate of Canada 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4 

Submissions by organizations to the Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology can be emailed to SOC-AFF-SOC@sen.parl.gc.ca or mailed to the attention of: 

Jessica Richardson - Clerk of the Committee

Senate Committee on Social Affairs, Science and Technology
The Senate of Canada
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4 

Senate Leadership 

The Hon. Marjory LeBreton, Senator 
Leader of the Government in the Senate 
Senate of Canada 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4 
lebrem@sen.parl.gc.ca 

The Hon. Gerald J. Comeau, Senator 
Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate 
Senate of Canada 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4 
comeag@sen.parl.gc.ca 

The Hon. James S. Cowan, Senator 
Leader of the Opposition in the Senate 
Senate of Canada 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4 
cowanj@sen.parl.gc.ca 

The Hon. Claudette Tardif, Senator 
Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Senate 
Senate of Canada 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0A4 
tardic@sen.parl.gc.ca