of offenders. It called on all Canadians to stand up for victims and implement the proposed recommendations. Joy made a motion in 2006 calling on Parliament to condemn the sex trafficking of women and children across international borders and implement a comprehensive strategy to fight the trafficking of persons worldwide. In March 2007, the House of Commons unanimously passed Joy’s Motion M-153. It was victory. But it wasn’t enough.
“Exactly,” Joy said. “The House gave one hundred percent support. That means they understand there is a problem.”
“Across international borders. I agree. And that’s an implementation issue for our border security.”
“But what if this isn’t just about victims coming into our country?” Joy asked. “What if it is about victims from within our country?”
“Again, it’s a matter of border security to ensure that all those coming in are coming in for lawful purposes.”
“I’m referring to girls born and raised right here in Canada.”
The minister stopped his train of thought. Had he heard that right?
“Girls not being brought into Canada but girls who are already Canadians?”
“It is true that human trafficking is happening from outside to inside. Foreign girls are being lured in under false pretenses and are then used for awful purposes by men who have deceived them,” Joy said. “But trafficking is also happening to the girl next door. Your average girl. Every income bracket. Every skin colour. Every neighbourhood. Canadian girls are victims of human trafficking.”
“Impossible.”
“No.”
“I simply don’t believe it.”
“I’ve seen it.”
“Joy—.” Another MP walked by and nodded to Arthur. Arthur returned the greeting. “Joy, human trafficking …” he seemed momentarily overcome with information. Like his mind was trying to process something it had not believed was possible. “Human trafficking is not on the government’s agenda.”
“Maybe it should be. The motion was carried unanimously.”
“Joy, your motion was impressive work. It really was. But no one would ever have voted against that motion. It’s so generic and calls on people to do what obviously should be done.”
“Exactly.”
“Joy, there are many important issues we have to deal with. Human trafficking is one of them. But the government doesn’t have time to address everything at the same time. You understand that.”
“I do. And I understand the many items you have to balance and move forward. Don’t think I don’t appreciate the magnitude of your position.”
“The government doesn’t have time to—” Something caught his attention. Another MP waiting her turn to speak. He nodded at her in acknowledgement. “You said it exactly right. Condemning human trafficking across international borders.”
“And now I’m asking to go a step further. To condemn it within our borders. To protect Canadian girls.”
That caught him off guard a second time. Like his mind had already chosen to disregard Joy’s earlier comment. He physically leaned back. Not a great distance. Had someone not been part of the conversation they might not even have noticed it happened. But Joy noticed. Even if he did do it involuntarily.
“Human trafficking is not happening to Canadian girls,” he said. It came out as more of an attempt to assure himself of what he knew. Or at least what he thought he knew. He fought against his cognitive dissonance. Then wondered. “It isn’t happening, is it? Not to our girls.”
“What if it is?”
“Joy, human trafficking as it relates to Canada is people being brought in from outside.”
“In part. But what if there’s more to it than that? We’re talking about a new crime here, Arthur. Something we have closed our eyes to. I’m not sure why. But we just don’t see it. Or maybe we don’t want to see it.”
Members started re-entering the House of Commons. The minister stood. Joy, too. He looked apologetically at the other member in waiting. Then to Joy, quietly enough that it would not be heard by others, “Joy, the information you’re giving me is … is staggering to say the least. I’m going to look into it. But I need to be clear with you. We are not going to put a bill forward on this.” He turned his hands palm up as an indication of a man already swamped with responsibilities who had become accustomed to rejecting new and good ideas that would capsize the boat if he took yet another task on. “But keep up the good work,” he said.
“Thank you for your time,” Joy said as the minister departed.
She took in a breath. How many conversations had there been in this lobby over the years? How many members had both good news and bad news delivered to them there? How many historically significant conversations had taken place there?
She wondered if this might have been one of them.
When the session ended, Joy returned to her office. Karen looked up from her desk. Joy motioned to her office. Karen followed her in.
“And?” Karen asked, sitting down.
“I think we have a very big battle on our hands, Karen.”
“He’s not going to support it?”
“It doesn’t look that way. He’s just … I don’t know. We passed the motion. Why is he not seeing this?”
“We can show him the bill. We can go through the evidence.”
“He’s not interested,” Joy said.
“Well, he’s the best chance we have at getting this thing through, so we have to get him interested.” Joy’s mind was already working through other scenarios. “If the minister of justice can’t be convinced, we’re in serious trouble,” Karen finished.
“He doesn’t believe there is a problem,” Joy said.
“Then how do we convince him he’s wrong?”
“He’s not going to put the bill forward. There has to be another way.”
“Well, not without him. If he is not willing to support the bill, all that’s left …”
She didn’t want to say it. The other route was just dumb luck. It was basing your plan on a lottery ticket. It was a joke of a way forward.
“You can say it out loud, Karen. A private member’s bill.”
“Lotto 649.”
Joy became quiet. The room became quiet. Almost eerily so. It felt strange all of a sudden. Like all the weight of the history of Parliament Hill was coming alive in their room.
Joy spoke quietly, her tone both soft and strange. “Can I let you in on a little secret, Karen?” she whispered.
Karen
