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CBC
28 minutes ago
- CBC
N.B. police report spike in human trafficking in 2024
Social Sharing A spike in reports of human trafficking across New Brunswick has experts scrambling to offer advice to officials on the topic and urging the province to create its own human trafficking unit to crack down on the underground trade. Last year, New Brunswick saw the highest number of human trafficking incidents reported to police in decades, according to Statistics Canada. Police-reported data from 2024 shows that New Brunswick also tied with Ontario for the second-highest rate of human trafficking reports per capita across the 10 provinces. There were 17 incidents reported to police in New Brunswick, the report said, resulting in six people charged. That's the highest number of incidents reported since 1998, with 2023 seeing the second-highest count at 12. WATCH | 'It's not always easy to just get out,' UNB prof says Human trafficking incidents in N.B. on the rise 37 minutes ago In 2024, New Brunswick saw the highest number of human trafficking incidents and charges in decades. Experts say it's a complicated crime, and the province must improve its response to victims who come forward. But one researcher says those numbers may only scratch the surface. "This is to the point where police believe they have a suspect in mind and enough to recommend or lay a charge for that person," said Mary Ann Campbell, director of the University of New Brunswick's Centre for Criminal Justice Studies and Policing Research. "So it's still not capturing unreported incidents of human sex trafficking, which means the rates could be higher than those numbers actually suggest in the official statistics." About half of the incident reports in 2024 were made in Moncton. Campbell said that's not surprising, as there is a known trafficking corridor that runs from Halifax, through Moncton, and westward to Quebec. For the past five years, Ashley MacDonald has run a program in Moncton called YWCA Brave, which supports victims and people vulnerable to human trafficking and delivers education sessions to the public. MacDonald has noticed a significant shift over the past year. "I'm getting ... a dramatic increase from government bodies and departments asking for the educational workshops, and what [human trafficking] is. That has gone up astronomically this year," she said in an interview. "There's been some really public cases that have been in the media locally and I think that's really helped the public understand that this … happens next door, it happens in our neighbourhoods." In May, a 26-year-old man from Sussex was sentenced to 16 years in prison, according to the New Brunswick RCMP, for several crimes including human trafficking. Earlier this year, a 19-year-old woman, who cannot be named, was sentenced to three years in prison after admitting to three charges of sex trafficking that involved moving two girls into Moncton from another province. The court heard the woman was recruited into the sex trade herself as a minor, after her mother died. A complicated crime Campbell said it's common for human trafficking victims to become involved in criminal activity themselves, making it more complicated for law enforcement to get the person out of the situation. "Sometimes [it's] drug possession and selling of drugs, maybe that's just part of the bigger dynamic. And if you just focus on those pieces, you're missing an opportunity to get somebody out of this situation," she said. "Often one of the things they're going to do is ply the person with drugs, get you hooked and then your supply is coming from your sex trafficker and … you've got to pay your debt now through sex trafficking." Campbell said that's one of several ways a perpetrator may try to exert control over victims. "Some of those things they've done can be used as leverage against them now, because they've done these things that if others found out they could get in trouble for," she said. Youth with greater emotional needs for belonging may be especially vulnerable to trafficking, Campbell said. "They may ... not think great things about themselves, but yet this other group of people that's trying to hook them in, this gives them a lot of praise and accolades and helps them feel special and wanted," she said. "It's a very complex issue, with a lot of that psychological manipulation that really works against a person … it's not always easy to just get out." MacDonald said New Brunswick needs its own human trafficking police unit — something already in place in neighbouring Nova Scotia. "If for years we've been saying, 'there's no human trafficking in New Brunswick,' which by and large has been the attitude, well, why would we have the specialized force?" she said. "So you kind of have to make the argument, which means you need the numbers — which we aren't capturing well in New Brunswick, because for so long it was said that the issue isn't here." Cpl. Holly Erb, New Brunswick RCMP sexual violence co-ordinator, said this year the province gave the force funding to introduce a team partially focused on trafficking. "The province of New Brunswick announced funding in their 2025-2026 budget for the development of a specialized sexual violence unit, focused on investigating cases of sexual violence and human trafficking," Erb said in a statement. "By investing in this specialized unit, we are ensuring that we have the necessary resources, expertise, and capacity to respond effectively, support survivors, and bring offenders to justice." Erb did not say when the unit will begin operating. 'You don't have to report it to police to get out of it' MacDonald said the true scope of human trafficking won't be captured through statistics. "A lot of people who are trafficked also, they don't want to report it. They don't want to go to the police. They just want to rebuild their lives," MacDonald said. "I think it's really complicated when we're talking about statistics." Campbell agrees, noting sometimes it is safer or less traumatic for the victim not to pursue criminal charges. "The more people we have outside of law enforcement that are aware of the signs and can be a support for folks that have been through this or have survived this type of experience, the better," she said. "You don't have to report it to police to get out of it. We just want to make sure people have a place to be where they feel safe and can transition out of that type of criminal activity that they've been victimized by." Andrée-Anne Marks, justice lead at Sexual Violence New Brunswick, said more victims are coming forward, but the province's response must be more consistent and co-ordinated. "From what I've heard from survivors, you know, sometimes they get access to one phone call. And if we're not able to kind of really speak to that one phone call, then that might be the last time that person is able to reach out for support," Marks said. "Capitalizing on being able to really offer those holistic wraparound supports is going to be really important. And that's going to take more than one government agency." She said medical settings can be an important opening for people to get help, and noted the importance of continued funding for sexual assault nurse examiners, and legal aid for survivors who want to understand their options in the justice system.
CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
Residents warned against drone use in vicinity of Bayers Lake fire
An emergency alert Tuesday evening cautioned Halifax-area residents that the use of drones within 9.3 kilometres of an uncontrolled wildfire in the Bayers Lake area could jeopardize firefighting operations. The provincial alert, delivered just after 6:30 p.m. AT, said anyone caught operating a drone in the restricted zone could be fined or face jail time. "If unauthorized drones are present, firefighting aircraft must be grounded, and crews must suspend operations," the alert explained. "This puts lives and communities at great risk." The Halifax Professional Firefighters confirmed in a Facebook post on Tuesday night that a drone did pause operations on the Bayers Lake wildfire. "Water bombing operations have been temporarily halted due to an illegal drone in the area. This is directly impacting fire fighter and public safety," the post read. "Flying recreational drones near an active incident is illegal and dangerously interferes with emergency operations. Please keep all drones grounded and away from the scene so our crews can safely continue their work." Unauthorized drones can impede firefighting work CBC videographer Brian MacKay spotted a man flying a small drone — possibly a DJI Mini — along Highway 102 near the Costco location in Bayers Lake on Tuesday afternoon while capturing footage with a regular video camera. "As an advanced drone pilot who is taking courses and things, I know very well that anywhere near an active site like that, a forest fire, anything with search and rescue, anywhere near helicopters in the air or drones are being used by rescue personnel — we are not to fly drones for photography purposes or any purposes because it impedes their job," MacKay said. "But I also know having taken this course and being an advanced drone pilot that you don't need to be an advanced drone pilot to fly a drone." 'It can be very dangerous' Nav Canada refers to small drones as remotely piloted aircraft systems. If someone is flying one near a wildfire without permission, Transport Canada says there's a chance it could collide with firefighting aircraft. "Canadian law requires all drone pilots to fly according to the Canadian Aviation Regulations, which state that only someone with permission can fly a drone over a wildfire, or within 9.3 kilometres (five nautical miles) of a wildfire," Transport Canada said on its website. MacKay said water bombers were getting closer to the highway at the time he spotted the man with the drone. He said the man might not have known the regulations. "I do have patience for people like that, I don't think they're trying to hinder anything. They're just trying to get a good view, get some cool footage to upload or share with family and friends. I don't believe it was malicious but it can be very dangerous," he said.
CBC
36 minutes ago
- CBC
Wahnapitae man urges MNR not to kill his hybrid wolves
A man living near Wahnapitae, Ont., in Greater Sudbury, is worried about the fate of his pets after their expected government seizure next month. Bryton Bongard lives on a rural property, where he has built a large enclosure for his pack of 16 wolf-dog hybrids. In 2021, he got them as puppies from a friend who said they may be part wolf, though Bongard never looked into their lineage. What he has since learned is that in Ontario, owning wolf-dog hybrids is illegal. Ontario's Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) is now involved, and Bongard said he's expecting the ministry to seize his animals in September. But it's not the seizure that troubles Bongard. He's worried about what will happen to his dogs afterward, since he said MNR has not told him what their fate will be. Bongard said he's worried the animals will be euthanized instead of re-homed. "I have no problem with the penalties. I know I broke the rules. And yeah, I'll pay a fine. I'll help move my dogs. I'll do whatever it takes to make sure my dogs are safe and healthy," he said. CBC News asked the Ontario MNR about the rules around wolf-dog hybrids in the province, and about what will happen to these animals after they're seized. "In general, it's against the law to keep wild animals from Ontario as pets or to hold them in captivity," a spokesperson wrote in a statement. "There are a few exceptions, which are carefully regulated under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997. As this is an active case, MNR is unable to comment further." Wolf-dogs kept in large enclosure Bongard's enclosure measures roughly 35 metres by 35 metres. The wire fencing is 2.5-metres tall with barbs on the top, as well as a metal apron underground to prevent the animals from digging out. Within the enclosure are some covered shelter areas, as well as small perches for the animals to climb upon. When Bongard enters with food and treats, such as eggs, the dogs excitedly approach with tails wagging. Bongard said he hears largely positive comments from his neighbours about the animals, and he invites people to meet the pack by appointment. The wolves have had some litters over the past few years, some of which he has already surrendered to the ministry. He said all of his animals have since been spayed or neutered so they will not have further litters. Keeping hybrids 'doesn't really work out': retired biologist The DNA of wolf-dog hybrids makes them less suitable as pets when compared to domesticated dogs, said retired wildlife biologist Dean Cluff. Cluff lives in Sudbury and worked with wolves in Northwest Territories during his career. "It doesn't really work out for the most part," he said. "They're basically unpredictable." Cluff said that while the animals may appear friendly and well socialized, they tend to follow a pack hierarchy that can shift over time, especially if something should happen to their owner. Cluff said wild wolves can travel 80 kilometres or more in a day, and it's hard to say whether wolves and hybrids born into captivity may still have that urge to roam. Re-homing hybrids difficult Bongard said he's called sanctuaries across the country, many of which are full or not interested in taking wolf-dog hybrids. Cluff said the challenges in re-homing these animals include transportation, building a big enough habitat for them, and the ongoing costs of maintaining their health and diets. Because of those issues, he said, sometimes it becomes a more humane option to euthanize the animals. Bongard has offered to pay for the costs of moving the animals, but finding places for 16 wolf-dogs may be the bigger challenge. One of the few places in Canada that specializes in wolf-dogs is Yamnuska Wolfdog Sanctuary in Alberta. They reportedly told Bongard they are already at capacity and can't accommodate his animals. Bongard said he has asked the Ontario MNR about turning his own property into a sanctuary, but does not expect the ministry to support that plan.
