Businessman guilty of immigration fraud sold Filipino workers 'Canadian dream'

A Halifax businessman exploited foreign workers from the Philippines with promises of the "Canadian dream," a prosecutor told a sentencing hearing on Friday.

"Where there is desire, there are people who are willing to exploit that desire," Crown lawyer Timothy McLaughlin said. "(Hector) Mantolino is a person who knew where these people were to exploit that desire."

Mantolino, originally from the Philippines, pleaded guilty in December 2017 to misrepresentation under provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.