Press Release: From May 4

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

12:00 p.m. EST, May 4, 2009

 

Contact:

Tristan A. Downe-Dewdney

Spokesperson

Canadian Caregivers Association

(416) 628-8388

 

Caregivers Association Calls for Enforcement

TORONTO, ON – To date, the Canadian Caregivers Association (CCA) is unaware of prosecutions or investigations launched in the wake of the Toronto Star’s articles on caregiver abuse in the Greater Toronto Area. The CCA is calling on officials to follow the leads and to prosecute those who contravene the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

The law states that counseling any person to misrepresent material facts relevant to the immigration act is guilty of an offense. Other offenses include withholding material facts that would induce an error in the administration of the act and misleading communications regarding immigration. The penalties can include fines as high as $100, 000 and prison terms as long as five years (Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, 126-128).

The CCA argues that existing laws must be upheld. While there is a real and pressing need for the live-in caregiver program to be updated with 21^st century legislation, the CCA’s position is that program participants need to see that authorities are committed to enforcing those laws.

Recent action on the part of the Ontario government, including the creation of a hotline, are promising signs of movement towards creating accountability and the CCA hopes that all means available will be explored to ensure that the program serves all parties involved legally, accountably, and sustainably.

 

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