Elmau, Germany - 8 June 2015
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring the safety and security of Canadians and their interests abroad. One of the ways that Canada is meeting these objectives is by helping international partners address transnational organized crime engaged in human smuggling and illegal migration.
Human smuggling is a profit-driven organized crime that exploits vulnerable people, funds terrorist activities, undermines the integrity of Canada’s borders and immigration system, and threatens the national security of Canada and its partners.
On June 8, 2015, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced Canada’s continuing commitment to fight the criminal networks seeking to organize human smuggling ventures. Canadian efforts in this regard were initiated in 2010 with the appointment of the Special Advisor on Human Smuggling and Illegal Migration.
Canada will invest $45.5M over three years (2015-18) to continue its coordinated effort involving law enforcement, intelligence, border protection, and diplomatic activities. This initiative is focused on detecting and preventing threats associated with migrant smuggling from reaching Canada, with a particular focus on human smuggling operations that occur by sea.
The Special Advisor will continue his role in guiding and coordinating this whole-of-government strategy, working with key international partners to promote cooperation on this serious issue, and engaging with governments in source and transit countries.
Canada will continue law enforcement and border security capacity building overseas. We will provide technical and legal assistance, training, and equipment to enhance the capacity of countries to prevent and respond to threats posed by transnational criminal activity. These activities will be undertaken with a view to addressing threats before they reach Canada’s borders.
