The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid five charges against Jennilyn Morris, including human trafficking, following a five-year investigation into the unlawful employment of foreign nationals in the Edmonton area.
The CBSA’s Criminal Investigations Section alleges that Morris employed foreign nationals illegally. The workers were in Canada either: as visitors, authorized to work only for other employers, or were illegally in Canada past their authorized stay. Morris allegedly contracted illegal employees as cleaning, room service and kitchen staff for three Edmonton-area hotels; as housecleaners in private homes; and to stuff flyers into newspapers at an Edmonton-area publishing company.
The CBSA also alleges Morris organized one foreign national’s entry into Canada through means of fraud, deception, threat of force and/or coercion, and that the foreign national was deceived by Morris with an offer of employment that turned out to be for less pay, more hours and for different work than originally agreed to.
A first appearance is scheduled in Edmonton Provincial Court on July 2, 2014.
Quick Facts
- The CBSA executed two search warrants in April 2011 and seized an over 12,000 evidentiary documents relevant to the investigation.
- During the course of the investigation, the CBSA was able to identify, locate and interview in excess of 100 foreign nationals.
- These are the first criminal charges for human trafficking laid by CBSA in Alberta, pursuant to the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
- Employers and employees are reminded that contraventions of Immigration and Refugee Protection Act regulations can lead to criminal prosecution in court.
Quotes
“Foreign nationals working here have the same rights and protections as Canadians and permanent residents. The CBSA will not tolerate those who abuse the human rights of migrant workers nor the integrity of our immigration laws. When the CBSA learns of potential criminal activity, they will investigate further, and where there is sufficient evidence, we pursue prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”
Kim Scoville, Acting Regional Director General, CBSA Prairie Region
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Links
Fact sheet: Criminal Investigations
To Report Border-Related Criminal Activity
Contacts
Lisa White
CBSA Media Relations
1-844-245-2272
PrairieMedia@cbsa.gc.ca
