This article ran previously on CambridgeToday. Additional information has been included.
A former Cambridge business that billed itself as "a contemporary fusion restaurant and catering company" was fined $25,000 by the federal government last month for not operating in compliance with the temporary foreign worker program.
The kicker; the Coronation Boulevard business is no longer operating and hasn't been for more than a year according to the neighbouring business owner.
Qahwa Cafe N Eats got the fine notice April 29 for failing to provide an inspector with proper documents and failing to have the employer actively engaged in the business the foreign national was hired to work for.
All businesses that hire temporary foreign workers are required by law to apply for what's called a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
A positive LMIA demonstrates a need for foreign workers to fill a job that no Canadian worker or permanent resident is available to do.
Changes to the program that came into affect in March mean LMIAs are only valid for six months, giving temporary foreign workers a smaller window to apply for work permits.
On a website that's still active, Qahwa Cafe says it provided counter service and catered meals described as Arabian, Mexican and Asian fusion.
The cafe was apparently owned by Keerthi Foods Inc., a Mississauga-based company that also appears to have closed.
A second location was on Greenbrook Drive in Kitchener.
Phone numbers for both locations are no longer in service.
According to the Government of Canada, the company remains eligible to hire temporary foreign workers unless it fails to pay the fine.
Reasons for inspections under the program include suspicion of non-compliance, previous non-compliance, random selection, a worker is subject to an order, or a communicable disease is found at the work site.
A statement from the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development said it operates the Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program, in which skilled workers are nominated for permanent residence to meet workforce needs that cannot be met domestically.
"This helps to build and maintain a strong economy while also helping us attract the skilled workers needed to build the homes, hospitals, schools, and highways that our growing province needs," wrote spokesperson Anuradha Dhar.
CambridgeToday reached out to the Employment and Social Development Canada, but did not immediately hear back.
Not known is if the delay in issuing the fine is a result of an inspection backlog and if the local LMIA still demonstrates a need for hiring foreign workers.
We also wanted to know if the fine would be pursued now that the business has closed.
CambridgeToday also reached out to Cambridge MP Bryan May but did not immediately hear back.
