A disturbing trend in southern Ontario is putting international female students at risk of exploitation, prompting Peel Regional Police and local officials to raise urgent concerns. Reports indicate that some young women, particularly those from India, are being coerced into exploitative rental agreements that lead to abuse and trafficking.
The issue gained visibility when Brampton City Councillor Rowena Santos exposed a high-risk rental ad targeting female students. The ad, placed near Bramalea City Centre, offered “free accommodations and pocket money” for those open to a “Friends-with-benefits” arrangement. Santos condemned the ad as a clear attempt to exploit financially vulnerable international students.
In response to criticism, representatives from Small Ownership Landlords Ontario (SOLO) dismissed the ad as fabricated. However, Santos insists the risks for female students are very real, highlighting their cultural and financial vulnerabilities. She explained that many young women, under immense academic and financial pressures, often fail to grasp the hidden dangers behind such exploitative arrangements.
Community advocates like Gurpreet Malhotra, CEO of Indus Community Services, note that some landlords within the South Asian community are involved in these practices. Malhotra revealed that once a landlord establishes control over a tenant, the exploitation can escalate into forced sex work, with young women being coerced into non-consensual relationships.
Underreporting further complicates the issue, with only two cases officially reported since 2022. Peel police believe this figure does not reflect the actual prevalence, as many victims fear deportation due to Canada’s immigration laws.
In an October 31 letter to provincial and federal leaders, Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown, Santos, and Malhotra urgently called for legislative reforms. Among proposed changes, they advocate for revisions to Peel Region’s Residential Rental Licensing program to enhance oversight of small landlords, as well as culturally sensitive support programs in collaboration with organizations like Indus.
A central request is the removal of deportation policies tied to sex work for international students, which Santos argues traffickers exploit to maintain control. “We’re calling for the federal government to remove sex work as a condition of deportation,” Santos emphasized. This reform, she hopes, would eliminate a major weapon used by traffickers to silence and control vulnerable young women.
While hopeful, Santos remains cautious, fearing that policymakers may be out of touch with the gravity of the situation. “These issues hit hardest at the municipal level because we see it every day,” she stated.
As community leaders await federal action, they continue working to protect young female students from this exploitation, hoping to raise awareness and prevent further tragedies.