5 incidents of human trafficking reported on P.E.I. last year, StatsCan numbers show

A new report from Statistics Canada says Prince Edward Island has a human trafficking rate that is above the national average.

The data shows the province had 2.8 incidents per 100,000 people between 2014 and 2024. That equals out to five reported cases on the Island. The national average was 1.5.

Adelee MacNevin of EVENforONE, a non-profit organization that works to address human trafficking in P.E.I., said this province's statistics can be explained by the Island's population size.

“When we have a small population and we look at incident rates, only a few cases can really move the needle a lot," MacNevin said. "In P.E.I., our total number is small but our incident rate is high."

The StatsCan figures also show that 2024 was the first year within that decade in which P.E.I. had numbers to report.

"What it actually tells us is that it's the beginning of awareness in P.E.I.," MacNevin said.

Nova Scotia had the highest rate in the country, with 4.5 reported incidents per 100,000 people.

The report, which cites a study by the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking, says Nova Scotia's rate can be attributed to its coastal location and the fact that it "serves as a key node in a human trafficking corridor that facilitates the movement of victims.”

Some cases may go unreported

MacNevin said the prevalence of human trafficking can be hard to measure because cases are often unreported.

She said there’s many reasons why trafficking victims may not come forward — some may not be aware they're being trafficked, while others may fear the consequences of speaking out.

“They might be afraid of the reprisal from their trafficker, who often uses violence or threats or coercion to maintain compliance,” MacNevin said.

"We also have victims who don't trust the system. Unfortunately, going through the court system can be very retraumatizing for victims."

There are also misconceptions about what different types of human trafficking look like, said MacNevin, adding EVENforONE most often sees instances of sex or labour trafficking.

She said the definition of human trafficking can apply any time an individual exploits another for material gain. That could include cash, but not always.

Provincial strategy needed, group says

MacNevin said P.E.I. needs to develop a provincial strategy to combat the issue, something other provinces like Ontario and British Columbia have done.

"Human trafficking is a really complex issue, and we need absolutely everybody at the table working together, collaborating together," she said.

"A strategy helps to unify everyone's efforts and also identify the gaps and the additional funding and supports that are needed both to prevent [it], as well as to support survivors better."

In a statement, P.E.I.'s Department of Justice and Public Safety called human trafficking a complex crime, and said the StatsCan data reinforces the need to address the issue with continued collaboration.

"We continue to work closely with law enforcement, community organizations, and federal partners to strengthen prevention, improve victim support, and enhance investigative capacity," it said.

"Our goal is to ensure that every victim has access to safety and resources, and that traffickers are held accountable."