^{Terms of Use}Highstreet Accommodations Ltd. 2025 Statement on Human Trafficking, Forced Labour, and Child Labour

Re: the Fighting Against Forced Labour and Child Labour in Supply Chains Act, SC 2023, c.9 (the “Act”) and the National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking  2019-2024 (the “National Strategy”)

Introduction

Human trafficking and forced labour can be found in every country and every sector. The International Labour Organization estimates that there are approximately 28 million victims of forced labour worldwide, including 17.6 million in the private economy, and further estimates that the number of victims of human trafficking worldwide varies from 24 to 40 million annually. 

The Act aims to increase industry awareness and transparency about forced labour and child labour, and to encourage responsible business practices. Forced labour is defined as labour or service provided or offered to be provided by a person under circumstances that could reasonably be expected to cause the person to believe their safety or the safety of a person known to them would be threatened if they failed to provide or offer to provide the labour or service, or that constitute forced or compulsory labour as defined in Article 2 of the Forced Labour Convention, 1930 of the International Labour Organization.

Under the Act, child labour encompasses labour or services provided or offered to be provided by persons under the age of 18 years that are provided or offered under circumstances that are contrary to the laws of Canada and  are provided or offered under circumstances that are mentally, physically, socially, or morally dangerous to them. Forced labour and child labour interferes with schooling by depriving persons under the age of 18 years of the opportunity to attend school, obliging them to leave school prematurely, or requiring them to attempt to combine school attendance with excessively long and heavy work. The Act also references and incorporates Article 3 of the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention, 1999 (No. 182) of the International Labour Organization.

Canada’s National Strategy to Combat Human Trafficking brings together elements of the Criminal Code, RSC 1985, c. 46, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, SC 2001, c. 27 (the “IRPA”), and other laws and resources to define, identify, investigate, and prosecute domestic and international human trafficking cases. Human trafficking involves recruiting, transporting, transferring, receiving, holding, concealing,  harbouring, or exercising control, direction or influence over that person, for the purpose of exploitation, generally for sexual exploitation or forced labour. Human trafficking takes place within and outside of Canada. It is a global issue that occurs in all countries. 

Highstreet is committed to the principles of the Act and the National Strategy and the goal of abolishing human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour. Highstreet expects our employees, vendors, suppliers, industry partners, and all other business standards to adhere to these standards. Highstreet implements our commitment through our organizational structure and operations, company policies, and risk assessment practices. Please read on for more information.

Our organizational structure and operations

Highstreet Accommodations Ltd. is a hospitality management company and corporate housing provider. We are a supplier to numerous global serviced accommodation, temporary housing, corporate housing, and relocation/mobility management companies. In accordance with the Short-Term Rental Accommodation Act, SBC 2023, c. 32, we do not offer our accommodations and services for periods of less than 90 days. 

We serve the Lower Mainland region of British Columbia, Canada, with properties located in Vancouver, North Vancouver, Burnaby, Richmond, New Westminster, Delta, Port Moody, Mission, Surrey, Langley, Coquitlam, Port Coquitlam, White  Rock, Maple Ridge, and more. 

All of our services, from guest service (24 hours a day, 365 days a year) to housekeeping, maintenance, administration, accounting, and sales, are provided in-house. We supply our accommodations and services to a limited network of companies through contractual relationships.

Our commitment to the principles of the Act and the National Strategy

Highstreet’s hiring and people management policies and procedures are designed to ensure that all prospective employees are legally entitled to work in Canada. 

Our housekeeping, maintenance, and guest services personnel are trained to provide detailed reports about the maintenance and condition of our properties. As hospitality professionals, our account management and guest experience personnel receive industry-leading training in all guest and client matters. Incidents of human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour can be difficult to identify, but certain risk factors can be apparent in a person’s dwelling: problems at home or with friends, low self-esteem, living in poverty, experiencing homelessness, or struggles with substance use or mental health often leave traces. 

Highstreet does not enter into business or partnership with any organization in Canada or globally that knowingly supports or is found to be involved in human trafficking, forced labour, or child labour.

Risk Assessment

As a hospitality company and corporate housing provider, we acknowledge that the industries in which we operate come with the risk that a contractual partner’s supply chain may involve the use of a hidden or unknown subcontractor reliant on forced labour and/or child labour, or a party that is laundering money for a human trafficking organization, or any number of bad actors, misfeasance, and interrelated issues.

There is a risk that goods entering the Canadian market through global supply chains were produced using forced labour or child labour. Our risk assessment practices range from industry-best-practice due diligence and background checks to “see something, say something” reporting policies supporting our guest-facing personnel.

Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline

The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is a confidential, multilingual service, operating 24/7 to connect victims and survivors with social services, law enforcement, and emergency services, as well as receive tips from the public. 

For assistance, call 1-833-900-1010 or use the chat function on the website linked above.

More Information

If you’ve read this far, we hope you share our commitment to the abolition of human trafficking, forced labour, and child labour. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact us today. 

This statement is prepared and approved by Keri Rodgers, Vice President of Business Development.