The RCMP charged three individuals from Goodfish Lake and St. Paul under the Immigration Refugee Protection Act on Monday.
RCMP allege Kihew Energy Services profited over $1 million between April in 2006 and September 2006 by contracting foreign workers to several northern Alberta businesses, which were charged a higher hourly rate for the services of each worker than was paid by Kihew to the workers.
Ukrainian Orthodox Church Reverend Father John Lipinski, 43, a director of Kihew Energy Services Ltd., his wife Angela Lipinski, 42, both of St. Paul, and Calvin Steinhauer, 38, of Goodfish Lake, also a director of Kihew Energy Services, have been served with a summons and will appear at Edmonton Provincial Court on July 25.
RCMP allege the three individuals brought a total of 60 foreign nationals from Poland and the Ukraine to Canada under student visas.
The three accused face charges relating to improper documentation and organizing entry to Canada by threat, deception or fraud under the Immigration Refugee Protections Act and section 341 (1) of the Criminal Code of Canada relating to proceeds of crime.
Investigators from the Calgary Immigration and Passport Section allege Kihew placed ads in a Polish newspaper and a website to recruit European welders and machinists to work in Canada. The first group allegedly arrived in December 2005.
RCMP allege an arrangement was made between Kihew and an individual who worked at Lakeland College and has since been terminated by the college. The person allegedly confirmed the foreign nationals as students for training in welding and English as a second language with Canada Immigration.
Some of the foreign workers attended a few English as a second language classes at the college, but non attended for technical welding, the press release states.
The college had no knowledge of the arrangement, according to the RCMP press release. RCMP are considering charges against the individual.
RCMP say the foreign nationals were told by Kihew they could work legally in Canada and bring their families after six months. They signed contracts which said if breached, would impose a fine of $25,000 and result in deportation. The workers allegedly received accommodations where up to nine workers shared three bedroom apartments, and were instructed not to discuss wages or arrangements of how they came to Canada.
