Ontario Protecting Communities and Victims of Crime
May 2, 2025
Beamsville – The Ontario government has introduced the Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act, which, if passed, would include stronger measures to protect families and support victims of human trafficking.
“The Protect Ontario Through Safer Streets and Stronger Communities Act is another step our government is taking to build safer communities, support victims of crime, hold offenders accountable and protect children and youth across Ontario,” said Sam Oosterhoff, MPP for Niagara West.
“I have heard directly from residents and businesses in Niagara of the importance of addressing serious crime and keeping our communities safe. That is why the province is working with all levels of government to provide every support possible for the most vulnerable in our communities.”
“Our government is taking action to deliver justice for those who have been victimized by heinous crimes,” said Hon. Doug Downey, Attorney General.
“We are proposing stronger measures to protect families, especially children and youth, by strengthening Christopher’s Law, amending the Family Law Act and Children’s Law Reform Act and supporting victims of human trafficking.”
To support the legislative bundle, the government is making regulatory changes to protect children against sex trafficking by strengthening Christopher’s Law to include child sex traffickers on the Ontario Sex Offender Registry.
The proposed legislation would also increase tools to address intimate partner violence by amending the Family Law Act and Children’s Law Reform Act to make restraining orders against abusers more accessible. Additional persons would be able to apply for family restraining orders on behalf of individuals in need of protection, including designated representatives or other persons with permission of the court.
“Our government is determined to protect Ontario, keep Ontarians safe and support women and children’s well-being,” said Hon. Charmaine Williams, Associate Minister of Women’s Social and Economic Opportunity.
“The measures we are introducing build on our four-year action plan to end gender-based violence and our Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy. This is another step toward building a province free of violence and full of opportunity for all.”
To help combat human trafficking in the hotels and short-term rentals sector, Ontario will bring into force the Accommodation Sector Registration of Guests Act, 2021 on January 1, 2026. This will provide police with tools needed to help investigate human trafficking, as they could more easily obtain related information from hotels and other prescribed businesses.
In addition, the province will also be proceeding with consultations to support implementation of Bill 41, the Protection from Coerced Debts Incurred in relation to Human Trafficking Act, 2023. This Act, when implemented, would reduce the financial hardship survivors face because of human trafficking, helping them to make progress on their path to recovery.
Alongside the new legislation, Ontario is renewing its Anti-Human Trafficking Strategy from 2025-2030 with an investment of more than $345 million over the same period. The investment will help support survivors, raise awareness, protect victims and hold offenders accountable.
This announcement follows other tough on crime measures announced by the government earlier this week, including creating new prosecution teams to crack down on crime, empowering law enforcement to prevent auto theft and strengthening Ontario’s bail system.