Ontario to introduce legislation protecting newcomers from fraud and exploitation

Ontario will soon introduce legislation that aims to protect newcomers against fraud and exploitation as they navigate the immigration system, the province announced on Wednesday. 

Bad actors working as immigration representatives are defrauding and scamming newcomers while assisting them with their Ontario Immigration Nominee Program (OINP) application, Immigration Minister David Piccini said. 

He said newcomers often turn to representatives to help them navigate Canada's immigration system. 

"We know there are bad actors who exploit vulnerable newcomers, scamming them out of their life savings, lying to them with a fake job acceptance letter, coercing them into forging documents [and] jeopardizing their immigration status," he said at a provincial announcement on Wednesday. 

Some immigrants are "packed like sardines into a basement unit" and others are sexually exploited, he said. 

If passed, the legislation will create new standards that immigration representatives must meet. 

They will be required to have a written contract with OINP applicants, provide applicants with proof of their registration or licence to represent immigrants and ensure applicants can access their own OINP file, Piccini said. 

If representatives don't meet these standards, they could face fines and multi-year bans, according to a provincial news release on Wednesday. 

People convicted of a serious offence, such as human trafficking or withholding passports, could face a lifetime ban, the release said. 

The province will also publish offenders' names online "so they can't hide" and report them to the federal department of immigration, Piccini said. 

The minister repeatedly referred to bad actors as "scumbags" during Wednesday's announcement.

He said he aims to introduce the legislation next week. 

While the federal government makes decisions on permanent residency and issuing visas, provinces can accelerate the process for immigrants who have the most in-demand skills, Piccini said. 

Through the OINP, Ontario focuses on skillsets in health care, technology and skill trades, he said. 

"It is a prime target for fraudulent immigration reps to scam newcomers in exchange for a faster path to permanent residency," he said. "It's an illusion of a dream that never exists." 

Sara Asalya, the executive director of Newcomer Women's Services Toronto, said she's heard far too many stories from international students in particular being scammed by fraudulent immigration representatives. 

"It is heartbreaking to hear about students losing their savings, being misled about their immigration status or facing uncertainty about their ability to stay in a country after investing so much already in their education and future," she said at Wednesday's announcement. 

The proposed legislation will shield OINP applicants from exploitation, preserving the integrity and success of the immigration program, she said. 

The proposed requirement for immigration representatives to prove they are licensed is a "positive step to protect prospective immigrants," said Stef Lach, spokesperson for the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants, which issues these licences. 

Federal funding needed, advocate says

During Wednesday's announcement, Graham McGregor, Conservative MPP for Brampton North, said the federal government has been negligent in managing the immigration system and is failing to provide newcomers with the tools they need to succeed. 

"Many are left vulnerable to delays, shifting policies and a lack of transparency that has created an environment where newcomers are vulnerable to exploitation," McGregor said. 

Cities such as Brampton and Toronto, as well as settlement services, are overstretched supporting newcomers due to a lack of federal funding, Piccini said. 

CBC Toronto has reached out to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for comment. 

Asalya also said her sector is stretched thin and over capacity. 

She called on the federal government to provide more funds to settlement and employment support services. 

"We want to make sure we have the tools and resources to properly support [newcomers] and ensure their full economic integration into the labour market and society," she said. 

The federal government should also adopt programs similar to the OINP that are tailored to address regional market needs, she said.