Freshslice Pizza fined over illegal workers

A Vancouver-based pizza company has been fined for using foreign workers without authorization.

The Canada Border Services Agency says JM Food Services Ltd. And Fine Edge Enterprise Ltd., better known as Freshslice Pizza, has been fined $32,000.

The fine was imposed Nov. 23 after the company pleaded guilty in provincial court to offences under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Freshslice was fined $8,000 for each of four illegally employed workers found at pizza shops in downtown Vancouver.

In April, franchise owner Bahman Afshari pleaded guilty to three counts and was fined $12,000, placed on probation for one year and ordered to perform 25 hours of community service.

A CBSA spokeswoman says the criminal investigation that began in March 2009 after a tip and that a search of the Freshslice head office produced documents that led to the charges and convictions.