Over 700 foreign nationals in Ontario had been employed without authorisation to work in Canada
Three Ontario-based employers have been fined a combined total of $450,000 for employing foreign nationals without proper authorisation to work in Canada, according to the federal government.
CDA Landscape Services was fined $400,000 while TDA Landscape Services and SDA Services were each fined $25,000 for their violations.
"The charges and the sentencing reflect a thorough investigation and our commitment to maintaining the integrity of Canada’s immigration system. CBSA officers and investigators work diligently with law enforcement partners, including the OPP, to secure the border and ensure that those who break the law are held accountable,” said Aaron McCrorie, vice president, Intelligence and Enforcement Branch of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Previously, the federal government banned 20 employers from using the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) Program following inspections conducted by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) between April 1 and Sept. 30, 2024.
The full list of employers found to be non-compliant with the TFW Program rules is available here.
No authorization to work in Canada
The three employers recently fined by the federal government pleaded guilty to their violations on Feb. 28, 2025, in Oshawa, Ontario:
- CDA Landscape Services, to 20 counts of employing a foreign national without authorization
- TDA Landscape Services, to 2 counts
- SDA Services, to 2 counts
The convictions resulted from a joint investigation between the CBSA and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).
The joint investigation began in 2019 when a foreign national was arrested by OPP for impaired driving.
CBSA and OPP investigators discovered a network of unauthorized workers spanning multiple jurisdictions across southern and eastern Ontario and the Greater Toronto Area, according to the federal government.
“During the investigation, more than 700 foreign nationals were identified throughout Ontario who had been employed by the organization without authorization to work in Canada. Several individuals were found to be inadmissible due to criminality and were subsequently removed from Canada by the CBSA,” according to the federal government.
In 2024, the CBSA opened 184 criminal investigations into suspected offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA). That same year, the CBSA removed over 16,470 foreign nationals from Canada for violating the IRPA.
The CBSA has committed to increasing the number of removals from 16,000 to 20,000 (25 per cent increase) for fiscal years 2025-2026 and 2026-2027.
How to get a work permit to work in Canada?
Most foreign nationals already in Canada can no longer apply for a work permit at a port of entry, according to the federal government. They must apply online for an initial work permit and work permit extension.
“If you’re outside of Canada, you may still be eligible to apply for a work permit when you arrive at a port of entry. If you’re in Canada and leave as a worker on maintained status, you’ll lose your ability to work when you return,” said the federal government. “This means you can’t work until your application is approved.”
Ottawa has introduced significant changes to its TFW Program, aimed at safeguarding Canadian workers while continuing to protect migrant workers from potential fraud and exploitation.
