Many questions raised by border services investigation
The ongoing investigation by Canadian Border Services leading to the arrest of the couple who run the Sherwood Motel in Charlottetown, should raise many questions about the PNP and procedures used to ensure immigrants, could make deposits, with clear promise of citizenship and employment on P. E. I.
This investigation has revealed over 580 people were registered with this motel. The province now confirms that two thirds of the PNP business in 206- 2017, a total of 177 people, didn’t receive a refund for the business portion of their deposit, with the majority simply not opening up a business. Are we still to believe the RCMP did a thorough and impartial investigation, stating nothing illegal had taken place? Immigrants paid $ 200,000 deposit, with a commitment to invest $ 150,000, and manage a firm for operating at a cost of $ 75,000. These are the issues that are very concerning. Was it lawyers and accounting firms who managed these cases? Where did the $ 200,000 deposit go if immigrants did not come here? The Zhongs, who are alleged suspects, are facing charges with a court appearance set for June 11. One of them was on P. E. I. since 2007, without citizenship. Is this true? How could our finance ministers, Wes Sheridan, Al Roach, Jordan Brown, our attorney general, our premier, and our auditor general, all miss these money transactions? This investigation clearly shows no one in power was communicating with our Canadian Border Services.
I am also aware there are court proceeding ongoing concerning the e- gaming fiasco. This is entirely a different matter. Money collected by immigrants was not taxpayers’ money. Taxpayers money comes into the picture when we pay all these politicians big salaries to prudently manage our money, not to mention all other civil servants, lawyers and accountants. This my friends is as corrupt as it gets. I commend Canadian Border Security for doing its duty. This investigation would be very time consuming, compiling sufficient evidence to lay the charges. The federal government first started this PNP Program, it should now be their duty to ensure a proper investigation is done.
David Griffin, Summerside