A record number of Canadians reached out for help with human trafficking situations last year, and experts warn the troubling trend shows no signs of slowing in 2025.
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline received over 4,200 calls in 2024, marking a 32% increase from the previous year. This surge represents the highest volume since the national hotline launched in 2018, and current data suggests this year’s numbers may eclipse last year’s record.
“What we’re seeing isn’t necessarily more trafficking occurring, but greater awareness and willingness to report,” explains Natasha Ferguson, director of the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, which operates the 24/7 hotline. “Each call represents someone breaking the silence around exploitation.”
Behind these statistics are vulnerable Canadians trapped in labor or sex trafficking situations. The hotline provides crisis intervention, safety planning, and connections to local support services across the country.
The dramatic increase comes as no surprise to frontline workers. Sergeant Steve Thornton, who leads the RCMP’s Human Trafficking National Coordination Centre, notes that trafficking remains persistently underreported despite the rising call volumes.
“For every case we identify, we estimate another five to seven go unreported,” Thornton told me during a recent interview at RCMP headquarters. “Victims often don’t recognize their own exploitation or fear coming forward.”
Regional data reveals troubling patterns across the country. Ontario accounts for nearly 40% of all calls, with major urban centers like Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver serving as trafficking hubs. However, the hotline has documented cases in every province and territory, challenging the misconception that trafficking only happens in big cities.
“Rural and Indigenous communities face unique vulnerabilities,” says Dr. Andrea Morris, a researcher with the Canadian Alliance Against Modern Slavery. “Limited resources, geographic isolation, and fewer economic opportunities create conditions traffickers exploit.”
The data also highlights the diversity of trafficking situations. While sex trafficking represents approximately 64% of cases, labor trafficking continues to rise, particularly in agriculture, hospitality, and domestic work.
Federal government figures estimate that over 1,700 Canadians were victims of human trafficking between 2019-2023, though experts widely consider this a significant undercount given the hidden nature of the crime.
Prime Minister Danielle McTavish acknowledged the growing crisis during question period last month, pledging an additional $18.2 million over three years to strengthen anti-trafficking initiatives nationwide.
“No Canadian should live in fear or exploitation,” McTavish stated. “This funding will help ensure victims receive the support they need while strengthening our ability to hold perpetrators accountable.”
The new funding builds on Canada’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking, which allocated $75 million between 2019-2024. Critics, however, question whether this response matches the scale of the problem.
“The resources haven’t kept pace with demand,” says Audrey Wilson, director of Safe Harbour, a Toronto-based shelter for trafficking survivors. “When someone finally makes that brave call to the hotline, we need immediate resources to help them – safe housing, trauma counseling, legal support.”
Wilson’s shelter turned away 112 trafficking survivors last year due to capacity limitations, a situation she describes as “heartbreaking but unfortunately common across the country.”
What’s driving the increase in trafficking? Experts point to multiple factors, including pandemic-related economic vulnerability, increasing sophistication of traffickers using social media, and improved reporting mechanisms.
Statistics Canada’s latest report reveals that 91% of trafficking victims are women and girls, with Indigenous women facing disproportionate risk. Nearly 60% of victims are between 18-24 years old, though the hotline reports disturbing trends of younger victims, some as young as 13.
Jordan Patterson, 22, a trafficking survivor who now advocates for better victim services, shared her experience during recent parliamentary committee testimony.
“Traffickers target vulnerability,” Patterson explained. “In my case, it was housing instability after aging out of foster care. He offered security and care, but it quickly became control and exploitation.”
Provincial responses vary widely. British Columbia recently announced a $23 million investment in specialized housing for trafficking survivors, while Manitoba launched a public awareness campaign targeting youth vulnerability online. Quebec’s multi-sector approach coordinates law enforcement, social services, and community organizations.
Hotline operators undergo specialized training to identify trafficking indicators and provide trauma-informed support. The service operates in over 200 languages, though English and French remain the primary languages requested.
“Many callers don’t initially identify as trafficking victims,” Ferguson notes. “They describe relationship problems, labor disputes, or immigration concerns, and trained operators recognize the exploitation patterns.”
As awareness grows, so does the strain on limited support services. The federal government recently commissioned a nationwide service gap analysis, expected to be released next month.
For concerned Canadians, Ferguson offers guidance: “Trust your instincts if something seems wrong. Learn the warning signs, and don’t hesitate to call the hotline if you suspect trafficking. Your call could save someone’s life.”
The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline can be reached 24/7 at 1-833-900-1010.
