Adviser Calls for Women’s Safety in Fast-Tracked Canadian Mining and Energy Projects

Jennifer Richardson, the federal government's Chief Adviser on Human Trafficking, emphasizes the need for safety measures for women and girls in local communities affected by mining and energy projects in Canada. She highlights the exploitation risks associated with transient male workers and calls on companies to prevent trafficking. The government aims to expedite project approvals to boost the economy, but Richardson insists that protecting vulnerable populations must be a priority. Recent initiatives, like Woodfibre LNG's Gender and Cultural Safety Plan, aim to address these concerns.

Published Mar 22, 2026

Jennifer Richardson, Chief Adviser on Human Trafficking, urges that Canada's strategy to fast-track mining and energy projects must include protections for women and girls from local communities against exploitation by transient male workers. She notes the heightened risk of sexual violence in Indigenous communities near these projects.

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As the government aims to expedite project approvals for economic growth, Richardson emphasizes the importance of addressing potential exploitation. The Woodfibre LNG project in British Columbia has implemented a Gender and Cultural Safety Plan, including mandatory gender safety training for workers, to combat these issues. The 2019 National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls identifies a correlation between resource extraction and increased violence against Indigenous women.