Ontario published the names of 20 employers, individuals and representatives at the end of March after slapping them with fines for contraventions of the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015.
In all, they were found to have committed 53 contraventions of the act.
Those who apply to the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) must provide information that is accurate, correct and not misleading as failing to do so can result in penalties under the act.
It can also lead to the publishing of the names of those found in contravention of the act.
“Publishing contraventions of the act is an important measure to protect the public and further strengthen the integrity of the program,” states the OINP on its website.
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Those hit with fines for contravening the act have to pay the amount in the order to the minister of finance within 60 days of being served. The biggest fine allowed for an administrative penalty under the act is $150,000 for each contravention.
Under the act, Ontario can also ban people or organizations from applying to the OINP or acting as representatives for contravening a provision of the act or its regulations.
In the list of contraventions of the act published on March 31, the biggest fines were handed out to immigration consultants, including Lionel Samayawardhena who was hit with a $17,000 fine, Homa Saxena who was ordered to pay $5,000 and Seema Bhayana who was slapped with a $3,000 fine.
Lawyer Alnaz Jiwa was handed a $2,000 fine, among the smallest on the list, for two contraventions.
Hair Salons And Spas The Only Employers Named In Latest List Of Those Contravening The Act
Hair salons and spas made up all the employers fined and each one of them was found to have committed three contraventions under the act.
Care Coiffures was determined to have committed three contraventions under each of three operating names, for a total of nine contraventions.
Conforti Holdings was determined to also have committed three contraventions under each of 11 operating names, for a total of 33 contraventions.
Extend Coiffures was determined to have committed three contraventions under each of two operating names, for a total of six contraventions.
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The OINP encourages anyone who suspects that an individual, employer, or representative is providing inaccurate, incorrect or misleading information to the immigration department to e-mail programintegrityteam@ontario.ca.
In March, Ontario legislators were putting the final touches on a law, the Working for Workers Act, 2023, that would slap the biggest fines in Canada on business people who withhold the passports of their temporary foreign workers.
“Anyone who preys on vulnerable members in our community has no place in our society,” said Ontario Immigration Minister Monte McNaughton.
Ontario Wants To Slap Bigger Fines On Those Withholding TFW’s Passports
“If you think you’re going to deny someone’s basic human rights by withholding their passport, we’re going to hit your pocketbook, and you will be behind bars for a long time. We will continue to use every tool in our toolbox to ensure Ontario is a province where hard work pays off and big dreams come true.”
Under the proposed law, withholding a foreign national’s passport or work permit could lead to fines ranging from $100,000 to $200,000 for every worker whose rights are violated.
In addition to the per-passport penalties, those found guilty of breaking the proposed law would be liable to either a fine of up to $500,000 or up to a year in prison – or both. Corporations convicted would be liable to fines of up to $1 million.
Contraventions Of Ontario Immigration Act
| Name | Description | Date of Order | Enforcement Action(s) |
| Seema Bhayana | Representative | Aug. 19, 2019 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $3,000 |
| Homa Saxena | Representative | April 29, 2020 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $5,000 |
| Lionel Samayawardhena | Representative | Dec. 9, 2021 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $17,000 |
| Alnaz Jiwa | Representative | Dec. 22, 2021 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Care Coiffures Limited, operating as “NRG Salon and Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Care Coiffures Limited, operating as “Natural Solutions Salon and Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holdings Limited, operating as “Tonyc Salon & Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holdings Limited, operating as “Frenzi Hair & Skin” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holdings Limited, operating as “Your Space Salons & Spas” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Care Coiffures Limited, operating as “NRG Salon and Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holdings Limited, operating as “L’Attitudes Hair Salon and Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holdings Limited, operating as “Frenzi Hair & Skin” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holding Limited, operating as “L’Attitudes Salon & Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holding Limited, operating as “Your Space Salons and Spas” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holding Limited, operating as “Frenzi Hair and Skin” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Extend Coiffures Limited, operating as “Tonyc Salon & Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holding Limited, operating as “Natural Solutions Salon and Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holding Limited, operating as “Natural Solutions Salon & Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Conforti Holding Limited, operating as “L’Attitudes Salon & Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
| Extend Coiffures Limited, operating as “Tonyc Salon & Spa” | Employer | Oct. 21, 2022 | Administrative penalty in the amount of $2,000 |
Canadian employers can recruit and hire foreign nationals through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the International Mobility Program (IMP).
The Global Talent Stream (GTS), a part of the TFWP, can under normal processing situations lead to the granting of Canadian work permits and processing of visa applications within two weeks.
Foreign nationals hoping to gain their permanent residency in Canada can seize the opportunities offered by Canada’s currently-tight labour market to immigrate through the country’s many economic immigration programs.
Candidates Applications Are Ranked Using The Comprehensive Ranking System
Under the Express Entry system, immigrants can apply for permanent residency online if they meet the eligibility criteria for one of three federal immigration programs, the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FST), and Canada Experience Class Program (CEC), or a participating provincial immigration program.
Candidates’ profiles then are ranked against each other according to a points-based system called the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS). The highest-ranked candidates will be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for permanent residence. Those receiving an ITA must quickly submit a full application and pay processing fees, within a delay of 90-days.
Through a network of Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), almost all of Canada’s ten provinces and three territories can also nominate skilled worker candidates for admission to Canada when they have the specific skills required by local economies. Successful candidates who receive a provincial or territorial nomination can then apply for Canadian permanent residence through federal immigration authorities.
