Brampton officers together with Peel Regional Police and social service teams gathered on Wednesday to put out subsequent steps to fight the exploitation of worldwide college students inside the metropolis.
“Obviously in Peel region, we are more vulnerable, with international airport, major highways and inter modal hub, we are a nexus point,” mentioned Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown.
Brown mentioned town is residence to the best variety of worldwide college students in Canada. Officers are talking out following disturbing advertisements which have been posted on-line, with some demanding sexual favours in alternate for housing.
“It means there’s a market that they are preying on these very vulnerable individuals,” mentioned Rowena Santos, Regional Councillor, Wards 1 and 5, Chair, Neighborhood Providers.
After presenting the disturbing rental advertisements throughout a September council assembly, Santos offered a movement to council on Wednesday that focuses on strengthening native protections, advocating for systemic change on the provincial and federal ranges and creating community-driven options.
One useful resource already getting used is the Residential Rental Licensing program which was launched earlier this 12 months. It permits town to research and examine rental models. There have already been incidents the place landlords have been erroneously breaking the principles.
“We found 18 women in a single unit that has now been referred to Peel police, but this additional municipal tool will help to combat human trafficking,” mentioned Mayor Brown.
There are issues although that these crimes are being underreported. Since October 1, 2024, there have been 110 investigations in Peel of human trafficking. That’s in comparison with 127 investigations in all of 2023.
Brampton additionally intends to work with neighborhood companions to develop culturally delicate pilot packages to offer wrap-around providers, together with housing help, employment sources and anti-trafficking interventions particularly tailor-made to worldwide college students.
Metropolis officers mentioned they’re discovering themselves having to choose up tasks that must be on the shoulders of the provincial and federal ranges of presidency.
“Whether that’s dealing with student visas or the legislation around social agencies not being able to support formally international students,” mentioned Santos. “Or with respect to colleges and universities, mandating colleges and universities through the province of Ontario to provide education to students about their human rights and healthcare available to them once they come into Canada.”
Neighborhood businesses mentioned they’re making an attempt their finest to assist worldwide college students, regardless of federal purple tape in the best way.
“We can see an easy fix for this for example federal regulations changed or a pilot program, with an exemption in the city by settlement agencies, that would see existing settlement workers be able to now support international students,” mentioned Gurpreet Malhotra, CEO, Indus Neighborhood Providers.
Town may even advocate for the endorsement of its Worldwide College students Constitution by different ranges of presidency, in addition to post-secondary establishments throughout Ontario. The Constitution units out tasks for establishments to assist college students navigate authorized rights for housing and employment, whereas additionally stopping exploitation.
CityNews reached out to the federal and provincial governments in regards to the issues being raised and didn’t hear again in time for broadcast. The movement by Santos has been offered to the federal authorities. They’re hoping for a constructive response relating to extra sources to assist finish this apply.
“The City of Brampton, clearly, wants to zone in on this cancer within our society, our country,” mentioned Brown.
