Ontario gets tough on immigration scammers; Brampton prime target

Ontario will soon crack down on fraudulent immigration consultants who exploit newcomers.

Using Brampton as a backdrop to make the announcement today (Nov. 20), David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development said the new rules will create standards that immigration representatives must meet with penalties for those who violate the standards.

Officials said it was no coincidence that Brampton was chosen to make the announcement.

Brampton has long been considered a troublespot where scammers have set up operations because it is a destination point for many immigrants, especially those from South Asia.

Reports of newcomers being promised jobs that don’t exist, swindled out of life savings, and faced with sexual exploitation have increased over the years and the new rules are meant to protect those who are preyed upon.

“Like so many Canadians whose parents or grandparents came here for a better life, immigrants come to this province to work hard, support their families, and contribute to a stronger Ontario,” said Piccini. “Struggling to navigate a confusing federal immigration system, many newcomers put their trust in immigration representatives – many of whom are diligent and honest, but a few bad actors exploit vulnerable newcomers, jeopardizing their immigration status and scamming them out of tens of thousands of dollars.”

New rules will see the greater compliance and enforcement-related measures for the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP). This includes authority to require greater accountability and transparency between immigration representatives, employers and newcomers who are applying to the program.

Piccini said this could include requiring representatives to have a written contract with ONIP applicants, requiring representatives to provide proof of their registration or license, requiring representatives to provide the status of OINP applications to applicants, and requiring applicants to have access to their own application or file.

The legislation that will be introduced also proposes tougher penalties including a minimum three and maximum ten year ban for immigration representatives who engage in or counsel fraud, as well as a lifetime ban for individuals who have been convicted of a serious offence, such as human trafficking or withholding passports.

It would also expand the government’s authority to issue fines, for example for making a misrepresentation to the OINP, or counseling an applicant to do so, regardless if they were paid for their services.