Despite owing over $1M in unpaid wages and fines, a Toronto businessman is still employing staff, sparking calls for stronger enforcement in Ontario.
Businessman Convicted but Still Active
In late May, Ontario’s Ministry of Labour issued a public alert about Anchuan Jiang, a Toronto businessman whose private school, Ontario International College, was fined $410,000 for ignoring wage payment orders. Though convicted in March for failing to pay $185,000 in wages to 14 employees, Jiang remains in operation—despite owing over $1.3 million in wages and fines.
Missed Deadlines, Mounting Debt
Jiang and his company were ordered by Toronto’s provincial offences court to pay the fine and an additional 25% victim surcharge by May 12. As of early June, court services confirmed that not a single dollar had been paid toward the $580,730 owed. Worse, this isn’t Jiang’s first offense—his former company, Norstar Times, was also fined in 2020 for wage theft, and those penalties remain unpaid.
Repeat Offender Exploits Enforcement Gaps
Public records reveal 13 active writs of execution against Jiang and one against his current company, amounting to $952,000 in debt. A lien of over $300,000 has been placed on his Toronto home, yet no seizure actions have been taken. Employment advocates say the lack of real consequences has enabled Jiang to reoffend—highlighting a critical weakness in Ontario’s enforcement system.
Legal Experts Demand Stronger Tools
Legal professionals and workers’ rights groups are calling for new enforcement mechanisms. Staff lawyer Ella Bedard of the Workers’ Action Centre argues that repeat offenders like Jiang should be barred from running businesses. Joanna Mullen, an employment lawyer, has proposed reforms such as stripping business or operating licenses from employers who consistently fail to pay workers.
Government Recovery Efforts Fall Short
Ontario’s Ministry of Finance, responsible for collecting unpaid wages on behalf of the labour ministry, declined to comment on Jiang’s case specifically. However, internal records show a staggering $60 million of the $80 million in unpaid wages from 2017 to 2024 remains unrecovered—casting doubt on the current system’s effectiveness.
Proposed Reforms Left Out of Bill 190
Although Bill 190, which included wage enforcement amendments, passed in October 2024, it excluded proposals like business bans and license suspensions. Advocates argue that without these measures, chronic wage theft cases like Jiang’s will continue to slip through the cracks, leaving workers vulnerable and justice delayed.
Public Demands Accountability
Jiang did not respond to media inquiries. Meanwhile, employment lawyers and labour groups continue to push for legislative change. “At some point, there needs to be a consequence where a business can no longer legally operate if it refuses to follow the law,” said Bedard.
Ontario’s Ministry of Labour has not confirmed whether it plans to introduce tougher enforcement tools—raising urgent questions about the future protection of workers across the province.
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