The Saskatchewan government says it is providing $160,000 to help the Saskatoon Police Service maintain two specialized positions that support victims and survivors of human trafficking. The funding was announced Thursday on the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons. “Human trafficking is a serious crime that can leave lasting impacts on victims, survivors and their families,” Justice Minister Tim McLeod said in the update. “This funding will strengthen frontline supports for victims and survivors, improve coordination among service providers and help prevent further exploitation as we continue working to create safer communities across Saskatchewan.” The responder positions, which were previously funded by the federal government, also focus on prevention through education, training and public awareness efforts. The province says the roles help connect victims with trauma-informed support services while improving coordination between police investigators and community organizations. “Our team provides specialized support to survivors and works alongside our community partners to develop and deliver trauma-informed training to prosecutors and first responders. This funding announced by the Government of Saskatchewan is going to allow us to continue to have a full response team in place to combat human trafficking,” Saskatoon Police Chief Cameron McBride said. The funding comes through Saskatchewan’s implementation of the National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. To date, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney General has committed over $8 million under the plan. The province says it invests more than $70 million each year in programs and services that address interpersonal violence and abuse. “These investments support victims and survivors, expand housing options, raise awareness of human trafficking and improve access to legal and court-based resources across the province,” the province said.
