On Campus

College employee investigated for student visa fraud

Priest allegedly profited from illegal foreign workers

A former Lakeland College employee is under investigation by the RCMP in an alleged immigration scam, reports the Lloydminster Meridian Booster.

The RCMP’s Immigration and Passport Section charged three people June 13 with having illegally imported experienced welders to Canada from Poland and the Ukraine to work for Kihew Energy Services in St. Paul, Alta.

The 60 workers were enrolled in English as a Second Language or the welding program at Lakeland College, but few of them attended classes. Police are trying to determine whether a college employee falsified letters that were sent to immigration officials confirming the foreigners were legitimate students.

Police allege that Kihew made more than $1-million by contracting the men out to other companies and then pocketing much of their wages. The workers, who didn’t speak English, were instructed not to discuss their wages. Father John Lipinski, a Ukrainian Orthodox priest in St. Paul, his wife Angela Lipinski and Calvin Steinhauer of Goodfish Lake, Alta. are due in court on July 25.

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