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Cassandra Harvey on CityNews: A Human Trafficking Survivor's Fight Over Debt in Her Name

Publication: CityNews Toronto | Published: September 29, 2026 (video) and October 15, 2026 (article) | Format: TV news segment and online article | Subject: Cassandra Harvey, Advocate, Diamond and Diamond Lawyers

Cassandra Harvey, an advocate with Diamond and Diamond Lawyers, shared her story with CityNews Toronto in two reports this fall. Cassandra is a survivor of human trafficking. Years after escaping her traffickers, she still faces a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) debt that was created in her name while she was being exploited.

September 29, 2026: Human trafficking survivor in battle with CRA

CityNews first reported on Cassandra’s ongoing dispute with the CRA over debt tied to the period when she was trafficked. Watch the CityNews segment.

October 15, 2026: A petition to change federal legislation

In a follow-up report, CityNews covered Cassandra’s plan to launch a petition calling for changes to federal legislation, so that survivors are not left carrying tax debt created through their exploitation. Read the CityNews article.

What is coerced debt?

Coerced debt is debt that a trafficker or abuser runs up in a survivor’s name through force, fraud or control. It can include loans, credit cards, phone contracts and government benefits. The Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking has found that at least a quarter of survivors are dealing with fraudulent debt (Global News). Saskatchewan has since passed legislation aimed at relieving survivors of these debts (Canadian Lawyer).

Human trafficking and sexual assault

In Canada, 90 per cent of sex trafficking survivors are women and girls, according to the Canadian Centre to End Human Trafficking. Sex trafficking involves repeated sexual exploitation, and survivors often carry physical, emotional and financial harm long after they leave.

Criminal charges are only one path. Survivors of sexual assault and sexual exploitation may also have the right to bring a civil claim for compensation against the people responsible, and in some cases the organizations that failed to protect them. A civil claim is separate from a criminal case and does not depend on criminal charges being laid.

About Cassandra Harvey

Cassandra is a mother, a pre-law undergraduate and a survivor of human trafficking. At Diamond and Diamond Lawyers, she raises awareness about sexual assault and human trafficking through education and empowerment. Read Cassandra’s profile.

Support is available

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. The Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline is confidential and available 24/7 at 1-833-900-1010.

If you have experienced sexual assault or exploitation, you deserve to understand your rights. The team of lawyers at Diamond and Diamond have experience handling sexual assault claims. Call our 24/7 hotline at 1-800-567-HURT to speak with someone in confidence. We offer free consultations, and our team of lawyers represents clients across Canada.

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