CALGARY, May 18, 2007 – Charges against a Montreal Canadian couple for human trafficking under Canada’s Criminal Code are a signal that Canada is no longer open to human traffickers. These arrests are the first in Canada under the human trafficking laws enacted in 2005.

The couple had allegedly forced a 29 year old Ethiopian woman to work around the clock in their residence near Laval, while withholding her travel documents.

“This incident reinforces that Canada is not immune to this form of modern-day slavery.”, said Sabrina Sullivan, Managing Director of The Future Group. “Canada is recognized as both a transit and destination country for human trafficking, and we must continue to take action to curb such activities.”

A Vancouver man by the name of Michael Ng is the only other individual to date that has been charged in Canada for human trafficking. However, Mr. Ng’s charges were for human trafficking under the Immigration Act. His trial is currently underway and looks to wrap up in the near future.

“It is clear that Canada is beginning to get serious about human trafficking.”, said Sullivan. “In just one year, it has implemented guidelines to protect victims, injected funding in the 2007 Federal Budget to begin to address the problem, and taken proactive steps to prevent at least some victims from being exploited.

The Future Group expects that this victim will receive the full protection and support of the May 2006 Citizenship and Immigration guidelines to assist trafficking victims.

The Future Group is a leading Canadian non-partisan, non-governmental organization founded in 2000 that specializes in combating human trafficking and has worked with victims in Southeast Asia, West Africa and Latin America.

- 30 -

For more information, please contact:

Sabrina Sullivan

Managing Director

The Future Group

(403) 612-0396