exploitation C tels along the Hwy. 401 and Hwy. 403 corriâ€" dors, say local officials. "This is not an issue we‘re immune to. We are one of the biggest corridors heading into the U.S., where there are love hotels, restaurants. It‘s accessible to both traffickers and conâ€" sumers in the sexual industry," said Det. Sgt. Raf Skwarka, Halton police Drugs and Moralâ€" ity Unit (OMU). Skwarka made the remarks as a new group takes shape in Halton with the aim of thwartâ€" ing hurnan trafficking here. Recent funding from the Status of Women Canada has allowed Sexual Assault & Vioâ€" lence Intervention Services (SAVIS) of Halton to establish the Halton Collaborative Against Human Trafficking (HCAHT) pilot project. It aims to increase awareness of the issue and provide support to victims. The new HCAHT group publicly launched the model by which it will do that, dubbed HCAHT‘s Halton Region Clientâ€"Centred Supâ€" port Model. The plan of action was revealed Feb. 23 at the Queen Elizabeth Park Commuâ€" nity and Cultural Centre (QEPCCC). Those attending were given some informaâ€" tion about the issue of human trafficking in the region and how the new clientâ€"centred support model was developed. "Human trafficking is a growing problem in Specializing in Imports, Domestics, and & P 2382211188 t 4 & * % tb * o in mc $39 O« 39 $0 \ *\ Canada, a growing problem in Ontario. Agenâ€" | cles are now beginning to recognize and pay _ _ attention to what has been happening for : _ | years in our region and country," said Cindy . | Stover, SAVIS of Halton and chair of HCAHT. _\ _ | According to the Canadian Women‘s Foundaâ€" |_ | tion, Ontario has become a significant hub _ _ | for hurnan trafficking and sexual violence in ~. Canada. Most victims are underage girls and | . _ young women. fiits. | Citing a statistic from the Royal Canadian _ | Mounted Police (RCMP), Stover noted 90 per | _ cent of human trafficking in Canada is domesâ€" _ tic, with a "disproportionate" number of indigâ€" _ enous women and girls. | NOIdWVHI NVIGVNVI NOLUW | LTOZ ‘6 yarep Aepsunyy | g $44 O 84 $0 * g Nz ce 0 s 750 "It‘s really important to be aware of the vulâ€" nerabilities, not in a fearâ€"mongering way, but i ensuring we‘re making sure our communities i 6 are safe for domestic, as well as international, @ ols # individuals," said Stover. 2 $ 69 O in 2016, the Halton Regional Police Service‘s s DMU conducted 73 investigations, laid 68 / | criminal charges, made 16 arrests and rescued nine female youths aged 14â€"21 years. f %3.000 Also, 76 interventions, with those involved in is . the industry, were handled by Halton police. 4 The group outlined how its service could be |._ used locally and how educational presenâ€" _ _ MILTON (:’ HYUNOAL _ MyAutoRewards ca Performance Transmissions qmaw-mamm-mammmam -mmm-mmm-mm-mmom * Free Towing Within 10km e Classic Cars Fleet Vehicies 905â€"878â€"8156 + 905â€"878â€"8157 l uie @ C 905â€"875â€"1120 | miltonhyundai.com @ on OK2 ter qwners. Cash prce of $10.906 _&-â€"d~.~~.hb(~ M oter v-mo--v--u-.-nâ€"..-mu%-:f::-:"â€"qm _bâ€"--.â€"mnâ€"xwuâ€"u wb an arvudl lease may be apphed to oo Sport 2 4 FWO madais with an trance sate of doun -hr 720008 1 n Tn :"':l TY §20,077 Cont of comat PPSA, bounse and deater adoun tees of up to $499 Foes may vary ‘a deeke arder may be requred Witen ~n-~â€"--~-:=:.~. com or see e