‘Notice when something is not right’: Sask. hotel workers to be trained to spot human trafficking

More Saskatchewan hospitality workers are being trained to spot the warning signs of human trafficking. Laura Woodward has the story.

Hospitality workers in Saskatchewan will learn how to spot signs of human trafficking.

Human trafficking happens when a person is controlled or harmed for someone else’s profit.

Possible warning signs in hotels include requests for rooms near exits, refusing housekeeping, and guests who don’t have control over their own identification or money.

The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking says cases in smaller communities are increasing.

“We have seen a noticeable uptick into smaller cities and rural communities,” said Ashley Franssen-Tingley, a director with the centre.

She says traffickers often move between cities and towns to avoid law enforcement and further isolate their victims.

Jim Bence, CEO of Hospitality Saskatchewan, says the industry can play a role in disrupting that movement.

“As these traffickers move in small groups from, let’s say, Toronto through Saskatoon, to Regina, up to Edmonton, and back down ... we need to disrupt that flow of trafficking,” Bence said.

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The government is spending $115,000 on the training. The funding comes through a federal program to end gender-based violence, and is being distributed by the province to Hospitality Saskatchewan.

The initiative follows a push by the Hotel Association of Canada earlier this year to train the entire sector.

“Very often it’s hotel employees who are best positioned to notice when something is not right,” said Alana Ross, Saskatchewan’s minister responsible for the status of women.

While much of the training focus is on on people staying at hotels, some cases can involve hotel staff being exploited.

“We know that there have been some really significant cases of labour trafficking, particularly within hospitality, within housekeeping,” Franssen-Tingley said.

Anyone who spots possible signs of human trafficking is encouraged to call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010. The line is confidential, multilingual and helps connect victims with support services.