A chain of private addiction treatment centres in Ontario and Alberta is closing under the shadow of hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid wage claims, and criminal charges against the company’s owner.  John Haines, also CEO of Addiction Canada Inc., faces five charges, including two counts of fraud worth millions of dollars, drug possession and drug trafficking. 

OPP investigation revealed two employees fake being doctors

In June 2015, Munish Malik and Richard Tucker were charged after Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) received a tip that the pair were posing as doctors at Addiction Canada’s Caledon and Burk’s Falls locations. In May 2016, Haines, 51, was also charged when an OPP investigation revealed he was involved in the hiring of the men. OPP allege Haines defrauded clients of Addiction Canada of a total of $6.1 million.

Return of employees missing wages

As for current and former employees seeking missing wages, the Ministry of Labour wrote in an email that there are several ways the ministry can help after a claim is made, starting with an investigation into the company, and if wrongdoing is found, an order to pay wages. However, the government still encounters substantial difficulty getting money back.

This article is summarized by Canadian Fraud News.

Read the full article by Kate McGillivray at CBC News.