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Workers generally shared rooms, sometimes as many as three or five people to a mattress. Others slept on blankets on the floor. Workers who tried to take sick days were punished by having their pay and hours cut.

On top of that, Morris charged many of her workers huge “fees” — up to $3,000 for her alleged “services” in helping them get their legal status to work in Canada. She forced others to pay her back for any airfare she had advanced them.

Photo by Global Edmonton

Some quit. Many were too afraid. Some were already working in the country. Others had entered Canada legally as temporary foreign workers or live-in caregivers, but were convinced they would be deported if anyone found out they were violating the terms of their visas by working for Morris in her various businesses.

They weren’t slaves, but they were emotional hostages. Speaking little English, with no knowledge of Canadian labour law, they felt they had no choice but to obey the boss they thought was trying to help them. Many testified they trusted her because they simply couldn’t believe another Filipino would cheat them.

In all, Morris was convicted of exploiting 71 workers between 2006 and 2010. Those were the ones the Crown could find who were still in Canada and willing to testify. It’s not known how many others there might have been.

Morris has expressed precious little remorse. According to a pre-sentencing report, she justified her actions by suggesting her main objective was to help her workers gain permanent residency in Canada. The probation officer reported that Morris saw herself and her family as the real victims.