Ontario's solicitor general discussed proposed legislation to combat human trafficking with Sarnia-Lambton officials Thursday.
Sylvia Jones met with Sarnia police, Lambton OPP, Lambton College, and a number of local social service organizations in a virtual ZOOM meeting organized through MPP Bob Bailey's office.
In an interview, Jones told Blackburn News that human trafficking is a growing crime.
"I always begin by reminding everyone that the average age of individuals being recruited into human trafficking is only 13-years-old," said Jones. "When I started working on this file and learning about it, it was 14. So, it's only going down, it's only getting worse."
Jones said Ontario is a major centre for human trafficking in Canada.
"We have the most police reported incidents in the country and most disturbing, it is not targeting large urban centres, it's in small communities, it's in our hamlets. It's unfortunately a crime that while many people don't see it, and recognize it, it's out there."
She said the province is working hard with its partners, and survivors, to shut it down.
"What we have found, is that the individuals who choose to traffic young girls and boys, tend to move the young people around a lot. So, if it gets a little hot in one community, they will go on the 401 and they will move to a different part of the province."
Jones said the traffickers don't want the young people to know where they are, but they also move to where their customers are.
"It's a terrible challenge, for police in particular, because they're constantly having to work together. Which is one of the reasons in our investment last year when we announced the $307 million dollar strategy, that we wanted to make sure we gave police forces the ability to work together."
Bailey said the main message is, if you see something that's not quite right, say something.
Representatives from the Sexual Assault Survivors Centre, Women’s Interval Home, Rebound and Bluewater Health were among the other participants in Thursday afternoon's meeting.
Fighting #humantrafficking takes collaboration across sectors, including #corrections. I was pleased to speak with officers from the #Sarnia Jail today to hear their perspectives on how we can expand our efforts to fight this heinous crime. pic.twitter.com/sFQYNb5wKh
— Sylvia Jones (@SylviaJonesMPP) March 11, 2021