Money from botched immigration program running out
Posted Jul 28, 2010 06:19:48 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
The money left over from the province’s failed immigrant mentoring program is running out and there may not be enough left to cover a possible lawsuit.
The Herald reports there’s $35.5 million left in a fund from the program and $13 million has been paid out in refunds over the last year to dissatisfied participants.
If a class action lawsuit is approved this fall, up to 400 more people could get refunds.
Lawyer Peter Driscoll says not everyone in the lawsuit will qualify for a full refund, but if only 300 people get $100,000 back, it adds up to $30 million dollars – plus interest.
Immigrants paid about $130,000 to be fast-tracked into Canada with six months of mentoring in a middle management position. It was revealed in 2007 that not everyone got the training they were promised and some participants were doing only menial work.
