By Staff

(SP) Toronto - Harper's government has launched a campaign to help prevent immigration fraud and cut the number of immigration scams being perpetrated.

The government is conducting an online survey to uncover dishonest behaviour by immigration representatives and is inviting victims of immigration scams to step forward and provide input into the Government of Canada’s efforts to prevent fraud and other wrongdoing.

The survey, available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website for the next two weeks, is part of a campaign to inform immigrants about how to protect themselves against false claims from dishonest immigration consultants or unethical representatives. The information collected will be used to improve warning messages to potential immigrants.

"I've heard a lot of unsettling stories of how people have been taken in by dishonest immigration consultants or unethical representatives, such as labour, student or live-in care-giver recruiters," said Jason Kenney, Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism.

"Make no mistake - the Government enforces Canadian law when immigration fraud is proven. But we'd prefer to prevent the wrongdoing in the first place to protect the integrity of Canada's immigration system and protect people from harm," said Minister Kenney, who recently hosted a town hall meeting with ethnic community members in Toronto. A similar town hall meeting will also be held in Vancouver.

To access the survey, go to www.cic.gc.ca.