Last Updated On 18 July 2025, 6:28 PM EDT (Toronto Time)

A sprawling investigation into alleged exploitation within Canada’s smallest province, Prince Edward Island’s agricultural sector, has led to charges against 14 Canadian individuals and companies.

This includes prominent businesses like Canadian Nectar Products and Island Gold Honey.

Today, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), in an official statement, said:

“The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) can confirm that it has completed an investigation of complaints against agricultural businesses on Prince Edward Island. Following a review of all available evidence, the agency on April 30, 2025, laid charges against eight individuals and six businesses for their alleged violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Criminal Code”

The case, unfolding in P.E.I.’s provincial court in Georgetown, has exposed troubling practices in Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program, raising questions about oversight, worker protections, and the ethical responsibilities of employers.

Court documents and CBC’s The Fifth Estate reporting detail how workers, lured to Canada with promises of stable jobs and pathways to permanent residency, faced nonexistent jobs, inadequate wages, and coercive payment schemes.

As the case heads back to court in August, it underscores the vulnerabilities of migrant workers and the need for systemic reform in Canada’s temporary foreign worker system.

The Investigation: A Tip Sparks Action

The story began in November 2021, when the Cooper Institute, a P.E.I.-based social justice organization, alerted authorities to troubling conditions faced by temporary foreign workers employed by Island Gold Honey.

The CBSA, tasked with enforcing immigration laws, launched a multi-year investigation that culminated in charges against eight individuals and six companies on April 30, 2025.

According to a CBSA statement, the investigation involved executing eight search warrants and gathering extensive electronic evidence, including text messages, over several years.

The evidence points to systemic violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, with some individuals and companies also facing criminal charges for laundering the proceeds of their alleged crimes.

In Georgetown’s provincial court on Thursday, a federal prosecutor outlined the scope of the case, emphasizing the complexity of the allegations.

The charges centre on two key figures: Kamalpreet Khaira, owner of Canadian Nectar Products, and Roger O’Neill, owner of Island Gold Honey.

Alongside them, several numbered companies, including 102045 P.E.I. Inc. (operating as Fruits Canada), 102095 P.E.I. Inc. (Atlantic Canada Nurseries), and 2786244 Ontario Inc., face charges.

MCPA Consulting Group Walker and Associates and its director, Thomas Walker—a former P.E.I. accountant expelled from his professional organization in 2006 for theft—are also implicated.

The Charges: A Web of Alleged Misconduct

The charges are multifaceted, reflecting the complexity of the alleged scheme. They include:

Violations of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: Canadian Nectar Products, the two P.E.I. numbered companies, Kamalpreet Khaira, and four other individuals are accused of infractions under the act, including misrepresenting information to immigration authorities.
Unauthorized Employment: Canadian Nectar Products, Island Gold Honey, Walker and Associates, Thomas Walker, Roger O’Neill, and two others are charged with employing foreign nationals in ways not authorized under their work permits.
Fraudulent Documentation: Khaira, O’Neill, their companies, and one other individual allegedly submitted false information, including labour market impact assessments (LMIAs), to hire 27 foreign workers who were not needed.
Money Laundering: The Ontario numbered company, Island Gold Honey, Walker and Associates, Khaira, Walker, and O’Neill face criminal charges for laundering the proceeds of their alleged activities.

None of these allegations have been tested in court, and pleas have not yet been entered.

The case’s complexity led Provincial Court Judge Nancy Orr to adjourn proceedings until August, citing issues with how the Crown filed the charges.

Orr noted that the charges, listed on shared information sheets, should be separated for clarity, giving the defence time to review the voluminous evidence.

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program: A System Under Scrutiny

Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is designed to address labour shortages by allowing employers to hire foreign workers when qualified Canadians or permanent residents are unavailable.

Employers must obtain an LMIA, a document proving the need for foreign workers and ensuring fair wages and working conditions.

The program also requires employers to cover workers’ travel and housing costs in many cases.

However, the TFWP has long faced criticism for its lack of oversight and potential for abuse.

Workers, often from countries like Mexico, the Philippines, or India, are tied to a single employer under the program’s rules, limiting their ability to seek other jobs or advocate for better conditions.

This dependency creates a power imbalance, leaving workers vulnerable to exploitation.

The P.E.I. case highlights these systemic issues.

According to court documents and CBC’s The Fifth Estate, workers paid immigration consultants up to $30,000 for promised jobs that either didn’t exist or offered far fewer hours than advertised.

Some were shuttled between companies, working for entities they weren’t authorized to, while others were left unemployed for months.

The Human Cost: Migrant Workers’ Stories

The heart of this case lies in the experiences of the migrant workers who came to Canada seeking opportunity.

CBC’s The Fifth Estate interviewed four workers who described paying substantial fees to immigration consultants, believing these payments would secure jobs and a path to permanent residency.

Instead, they faced deception and hardship. One worker, recruited by Kamalpreet Khaira for Atlantic Canada Nurseries, arrived at a supposed job site in Belle River, P.E.I., only to find no nursery or company infrastructure—just flat land and a single house.

Khaira allegedly instructed the worker to pick apples at Canadian Nectar Products instead but to conceal this from authorities.

Another worker, hired by Island Gold Honey, said they were directed to Canadian Nectar Products’ premises on Peters Road in Alliston, P.E.I., despite never working for the honey company.

Repeated attempts to contact Roger O’Neill went unanswered. Perhaps most troubling is the alleged “cash-for-pay” scheme.

Workers reported paying hundreds of dollars in cash to receive paycheques for lesser amounts, which they needed as proof of employment for permanent residency applications.

One worker described paying $600 to receive a cheque for $499.70, a practice that P.E.I.’s Employment Standards Branch later ruled against in August 2022, ordering Canadian Nectar Products to repay four workers.

The workers’ stories paint a picture of desperation and exploitation. Many had borrowed money or sold assets to pay consultants, only to arrive in Canada with unfulfilled promises.

Living conditions were often substandard, with some workers housed on farms while awaiting work that never materialized.

The emotional toll was significant, as workers grappled with financial strain, isolation, and uncertainty about their future in Canada.

The Key Players: Khaira, O’Neill, and Their Companies

Kamalpreet Khaira and Roger O’Neill are central to the allegations.

Khaira, who operates Canadian Nectar Products and several numbered companies, is accused of orchestrating a scheme to access additional temporary foreign workers by running multiple businesses.

Court documents allege he instructed staff to provide fraudulent documentation for work that didn’t occur, misleading immigration authorities to secure LMIAs.

O’Neill, owner of Island Gold Honey, faces similar accusations. The CBSA alleges his company submitted LMIAs for 27 workers who were not needed, offering them jobs that didn’t exist.

Workers hired by Island Gold Honey were reportedly redirected to Canadian Nectar Products, raising questions about the legitimacy of O’Neill’s operations.

Thomas Walker, a disgraced former accountant, is another key figure.

Expelled from the Chartered Professional Accountants of P.E.I. in 2006 after pleading guilty to theft, Walker now faces charges through his firm, MCPA Consulting Group Walker and Associates.

His involvement adds a layer of intrigue, as his prior conviction raises questions about his role in the alleged scheme.

The numbered companies—102045 P.E.I. Inc., 102095 P.E.I. Inc., and 2786244 Ontario Inc.—are represented by the Ontario-based law firm Greenspan Humphrey Makepeace, which also represents Canadian Nectar Products and the Khairas.

The interconnectedness of these entities suggests a coordinated effort, though the full extent of their relationships will likely emerge in court.

The Legal Battle: A Complex Case Unfolds

Thursday’s court appearance in Georgetown highlighted the case’s complexity. Roger O’Neill, representing himself, was urged by Judge Nancy Orr to seek legal counsel due to the seriousness of the charges.

The other accused were represented by various lawyers, with some appearing virtually from Ontario.

Orr expressed frustration with the Crown’s filing, noting that the charges, listed on shared information sheets, were difficult to parse.

She adjourned the case until August, giving the Crown time to reorganize the charges and the defence time to review the evidence, which includes text messages, financial records, and documents from the eight search warrants.

The CBSA’s investigation relied heavily on these warrants, unsealed after a CBC News court application.

The documents detail a meticulous probe, with investigators piecing together a pattern of alleged misconduct dating back to at least 2021.

The inclusion of money laundering charges suggests the CBSA believes the accused profited significantly from their activities, potentially funnelling illicit funds through their businesses.

Broader Implications: A Call for Reform

The P.E.I. case is not an isolated incident. Across Canada, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program has faced scrutiny for enabling exploitation.

In 2023, a United Nations report criticized Canada’s migrant worker programs, arguing they create conditions akin to “modern slavery” due to workers’ dependency on employers.

Advocacy groups like the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change have called for stronger protections, including open work permits that allow workers to change employers without risking deportation.

The allegations against Canadian Nectar Products and Island Gold Honey highlight the need for better oversight.

LMIAs, intended to ensure legitimate labour needs, appear to have been manipulated in this case, raising questions about how employers are vetted.

The “cash-for-pay” scheme, meanwhile, points to gaps in enforcement, as workers were coerced into illegal payments to maintain their status in Canada.

For P.E.I., a province reliant on agriculture, the case could have economic repercussions.

The agriculture sector employs thousands of temporary foreign workers annually, particularly in fruit and vegetable production.

If public trust in these businesses erodes, it could impact the industry’s reputation and ability to attract workers.

The Path Forward: Justice and Reform

As the case moves toward its August court date, all eyes will be on Georgetown’s provincial court.

The outcome could set a precedent for how Canada addresses migrant worker exploitation.

For the workers involved, the case represents a chance for justice after years of hardship.

Many are still in Canada, navigating uncertain futures as they await the legal process.

For policymakers, the case underscores the urgency of reforming the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.

Proposals include increasing inspections, streamlining complaint mechanisms, and granting workers greater mobility to change employers.

The federal government has promised to review the program, but advocates argue that concrete action is long overdue.

The P.E.I. case also highlights the role of investigative journalism. CBC’s The Fifth Estate and its court application to unseal search warrants brought critical details to light, giving voice to workers who might otherwise have been silenced.

As the story continues to unfold, it serves as a reminder of the power of public scrutiny in holding systems accountable.

The charges against Canadian Nectar Products, Island Gold Honey, and their associates are more than a legal battle—they are a test of Canada’s commitment to fairness and justice.

Migrant workers, who contribute immensely to the country’s economy, deserve dignity, respect, and protection.

The allegations of exploitation, fraud, and money laundering in P.E.I. reveal a darker side of the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, one that demands accountability and reform.

As the case returns to court in August, the nation will watch closely. For the workers who endured broken promises and financial hardship, the hope is that justice will prevail.

For Canada, the challenge is to ensure that such exploitation becomes a relic of the past, replaced by a system that truly upholds the values of fairness and opportunity.

Satinder Bains

Satinder brings expertise, knowledge, and experience related to internal work flows at IRCC. She worked at Canadian Consulate in Chandigarh before moving to Canada. Her articles on “Chinook – An internal IRCC tool used to bulk process temporary applications” was one of the notable work on our news website