Blog Post #469 – Director Jailed and Companies Fined After Failing to Pay Employees

Excerpt from the government of Ontario’s Newsroom’

The Ontario Court of Justice has sentenced Steven Blondin, a director of six Ontario companies, to 90 days in jail for violations of the Employment Standards Act after failing to pay employees.

Between March 2007 and October 2009, 61 employees from six companies, operated by Blondin filed claims with the Ministry of Labour for unpaid wages. An investigation by the ministry found that wages were owed to all 61 employees.

Between February 2008 and April 2010, an employment standards officer issued 113 orders to the six companies and Blondin to pay over $125,000. None of the orders were paid.

Blondin and each company pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the ministry’s orders.

In addition to the jail term and fines totaling $280,000, Blondin and his companies were ordered to pay the wages owing to the employees along with a 25 per cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act.

Protecting workers on the job is part of the McGuinty government’s continued commitment to ensuring all Ontarians are treated fairly, while creating jobs.

Quick Facts

• The six companies owned and operated by Blondin include Steven’s Inc. of Orangeville, Axcea International Inc. of Toronto, Automotive Containment Solutions Inc. of Concord, Automotive CSI Inc. of Richmond Hill, Automotive CSI – Alliston Inc., and Automotive CSI – Newmarket Inc.

• The sentences were imposed by Justice of the Peace Vladimir Bubrin in Toronto.

• Since 2004, the Ministry’s Employment Standards Program has recovered more than $90 million in wages and other monies owed to employees through inspections, claims and collections.

• The Ministry of Labour prosecutes persons, including corporations, for violations of the Employment Standards Act, 2000 and its regulations to ensure compliance.

• A victim fine surcharge is required under the Provincial Offences Act and contributes to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

My opinion

The world must be going to hell in a hand basket. Why would anyone not pay their employees? Especially 61 of them! Thank God there is the ‘Employment Standards Act which, among many other things, empowers the MOL to go after lost monies owed to employees. The alternative is slavery! Are we really going to go back to that? Think about it!

Remember – In Ontario, “ALL Accidents are Preventable”

‘Work’ and ‘Play’ safe.

Daniel L. Beal
CHSEP – Foundation Level
VP & Senior Trainer
HRS Group Inc.