Starting January 2, 2025, the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) has introduced stringent measures to protect newcomers from fraud. The program’s Director now has the authority to immediately ban immigration representatives who violate the Ontario Immigration Act, 2015, skipping the step of issuing monetary penalties first. This swift action aims to uphold the integrity of the program while safeguarding applicants.
Key Highlights:
- Immediate Bans: Representatives can now face bans of up to five years for providing inaccurate, incorrect, or misleading information in OINP applications or failing to ensure their clients do the same.
- Enhanced Protections: These measures help maintain the trust and transparency of Ontario’s immigration system, ensuring applicants are treated fairly and honestly.
- Significant Penalties: Violators could also face administrative monetary penalties (AMPs) of up to $150,000 per contravention or prosecution under the Provincial Offences Act.
- Reporting Fraud: The OINP encourages the public to report suspected fraud through its Program Integrity Team at programintegrityteam@ontario.ca.
How This Affects Newcomers and Employers
Applicants and employers involved in Ontario’s job offer streams must ensure their applications are accurate, as even minor inaccuracies can lead to denials, cancellations, or penalties. Representatives advising clients must now exercise even greater caution, as their actions are under stricter scrutiny.
Additional Facts
- Representatives under a ban cannot assist any applicants or employers during the ban period.
- AMP amounts are calculated based on the severity and nature of the contravention, with some penalties reaching six figures.
This move aligns with global trends to ensure accountability in immigration programs while deterring fraudulent practices.
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