Edmonton woman charged with human trafficking

EDMONTON – An Edmonton woman has been charged with human trafficking as well as hiring foreign workers without authorization.

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) has laid five charges against 44-year-old Jennilyn Morris following a five-year investigation.

The Agency alleges Morris contracted illegal employees as cleaning, room service and kitchen staff for three Edmonton-area hotels; as cleaners in private homes; and to stuff flyers into newspapers at an Edmonton-area publishing company.

The CBSA also alleges Morris used “fraud, deception, threat of force and/or coercion” to bring a foreign worker into Canada to work, but the employment turned out to be for less pay, more hours, and for different work than originally agreed to.

“Foreign nationals working here have the same rights and protections as Canadians and permanent residents,” said Kim Scoville, the acting regional director general of CBSA’s Prairie Region.

“The CBSA will not tolerate those who abuse the human rights of migrant workers nor the integrity of our immigration laws. When the CBSA learns of potential criminal activity, they will investigate further, and where there is sufficient evidence, we pursue prosecution to the fullest extent of the law.”

Morris will appear in Edmonton Provincial Court on July 4.