Few things are more scary for a family than having someone they love taken from them and placed in human trafficking.
With North America’s busiest highway running right through the Quinte region, it is not just a big city problem.
Small communities along the 401 provide easy access for predators. It is a corridor of millions.
OnRoute stops, of which there are two west of Trenton and two east of Napanee, provide a location for moving victims of trafficking.
OnRoute, the provincial government, the MTO, and the trucking industry are working together on Project OnRoute, which is part of Ontario’s anti-human trafficking strategy 2020-2025.
Jill Dunlop is the Associate Minister of Children and Women’s Issues and says people need to be aware of the stops.
“Truck stops can be locations where there are transfers. I think this is a really important step moving forward and it really shows also, the cross-ministerial approach to human trafficking that this government is taking.”
“I applaud MTO for stepping up and looking at ways they can also be part of the solution, as well as the trucking association too, because they working with partners to educate truck drivers.”
Dunlop says a trucking association representative told a recent round table, “There are more truck drivers on the highways than there could ever be police officers. Training these people to have eyes on the ground and to be very vigilant is very important.”
BELOW IS A STATEMENT FROM THE PROVINCE AND MUCH MORE INFO
Our government is proactively partnering with the trucking industry to educate the public about the signs of human trafficking and actions they can take that can make a difference in the lives of those at risk. With a heavy presence on transportation routes and infrastructure that is being exploited by human traffickers, truckers can be a key partner in combating human trafficking by recognizing and reporting signs of suspicious activity.
As part of the government’s commitment to raising awareness and combating human trafficking, the province is exploring anti-human trafficking measures at all rest areas and ONroutes across the province.
The specific features to be provided at each site, such as lighting, site visibility from the road, cameras and other options will be determined during the design process for each site.
The government is exploring posting information at all rest areas and ONroutes that have the necessary infrastructure, which will provide emergency contact information and encourage people to be on the lookout for signs of human trafficking.
Other measures including better lighting in parking lots and adding more security cameras will be implemented where feasible.
Much more info can be found by CLICKING HERE
