Northern News Services

Yellowknife (July 18/01) - A Yellowknife business has been charged and another fined for illegally hiring foreigners.

A 31-year-old American citizen has also been charged with unauthorized employment at one of the businesses, Centurion Security Services.

In one case, the security company is charged under the Immigration Act with allegedly hiring security guard Daniel Lue Carlson, a U.S. citizen from Montana, from May 4, 2001, until July 3.

In the other, 809656 Alberta Company, an NWT-registered firm that manages the Shaganappy, Ptarmigan and Raven Court apartment buildings, was fined $1,000 for hiring British citizen Anjam Shahzad as a property manager from Nov. 1, 2001, until Feb. 27, 2001.

A representative of the company was in court on July 17 and pled guilty.

Shahzad, 40, was convicted in March of working illegally for the company. He was fined $750 and given a departure order and has since left Canada.

"This is the first time we laid charges against companies," said RCMP Cpl. Susan Munn. At least, the first time in the four years she has worked in Yellowknife.

"Previously there has not been enough evidence ... to charge companies," she said.

"We want to make businesses know it is their responsibility to make sure their employees are eligible to work in Canada."

The charges against Carlson and Centurion will be heard in territorial court on July 31.

Munn said the number of illegal workers being arrested in the city is increasing, a situation that can be attributed to public awareness as well as a good economy.

"I would have to say, yes, we are seeing more (arrests) because the situation is coming to our attention," she added, referring to tips from the public.

"I think it is a situation where all across Canada you have a number of illegal workers ... and the economy situation has attracted individuals to the North."