On June 16, 2015, Elizabeth “Lisa” Large, doing business as International Au Pair Canada, International Au Pair and International Homestays, was sentenced for counselling foreign nationals to misrepresent or withhold material facts as to their coming to Canada to work as caregivers of children, contrary to section 126 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). Large was sentenced to a 15-month conditional sentence order, including five months of house arrest, as well as 100 hours of community service and a $15,000 fine.
On March 30, 2015, Large entered a guilty plea to the offence which related to her scheme of arranging the placement of numerous foreign au pairs with Canadian families between April 2007 and April 2013.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) began its investigation of Large after a foreign national, seeking entry as a tourist, was intercepted by border services officers at the Vancouver International Airport. The officers determined the foreign national was inadmissible to Canada as she was actually coming to work without authorization as an au pair. The foreign national was counselled by Large to misrepresent herself as a tourist.
The investigation led to the execution of a search warrant at Large’s home in Chilliwack. During the execution of the search warrant, evidence was seized to support that Large had counselled over 100 foreign nationals.
Quick Facts
- The CBSA is responsible for investigating cases of alleged contravention of the IRPA, including counselling foreign workers to misrepresent themselves as tourists in order to circumvent immigration regulations.
Quote
“Counselling foreign nationals to misrepresent or withhold material facts relating to their entry into Canada is a criminal offence and damages the integrity of our immigration system. The CBSA takes this issue very seriously and works diligently to identify, investigate, and prosecute those engaging in these activities.”
Kevin Varga, Chief, Criminal Investigations, CBSA
Associated Links
To Report Border-Related Criminal Activity
Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
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Contacts
CBSA Media Relations
Vancouver, British Columbia
604-818-9701
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