Moose Jaw employers are first to face charges under Sask. immigration protection laws

Three employers from Moose Jaw have the dubious distinction of being the first people to face charges under Saskatchewan’s immigration protection laws.

According to the provincial government, Kartikkumar Prakashkumar Patel, Rutvik Hasmukhbhai Patel and Piyushkumar Mafatbhai Patel are each accused of violating Saskatchewan’s Foreign Worker Recruitment and Immigration Services Act, 2013.

Read more:

• Provincial immigrant nominee programs get late year boost: Diab
• Premier calls for economic migration in conversation around temporary foreign workers
• Almost half of Canadians want the Temporary Foreign Worker program eliminated: poll

The three are accused of:

• taking action or threatening to take action against a foreign worker for participating in an investigation or proceeding by any government or law-enforcement agency, or for making a complaint to any government or law-enforcement agency;
• taking unfair advantage of a foreign national’s trust or exploiting a foreign national’s fear or lack of experience or knowledge; and
• being an employer, charging a foreign worker a fee or expense for employment.

“The alleged offences took place between August 2023 and February 2024 at Guac Mexi Grill in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan,” the Government of Saskatchewan said in a statement.

While Saskatchewan has since replaced the previous act with the Immigration Services Act, 2024, the three employers were charged under the previous legislation because it was in effect at the time of the alleged offences.

All three accused are expected to appear in provincial court in Moose Jaw next month.

The provincial government said the Program Compliance Branch at the Ministry of Immigration and Career Training works to keep foreign workers and immigrants safe across the province, and advised anyone who believes their rights have been violated or who wishes to file a complaint about the immigration or recruitment process to get in touch.

“You do not need permission from anyone to contact the Program Compliance Branch, and all your information will be kept confidential,” the ministry noted in a statement.

Read more:

• Provincial immigrant nominee programs get late year boost: Diab
• Premier calls for economic migration in conversation around temporary foreign workers
• Almost half of Canadians want the Temporary Foreign Worker program eliminated: poll