Premier Fitness Busted

Fitness Club Operator and Director Fined $130,000 For Employment Standards Violations

Brampton, ON - Premier Fitness Clubs Inc., a Mississauga operator of 25 fitness clubs across Ontario, was fined $100,000 today for a violation of the Employment Standards Act regarding wages owed to employees. Neil Proctor, a director of the company, was fined $30,000 for the same violation.

Between June 2009 and September 2010, 38 current and former employees of Premier Fitness filed claims with the Ministry of Labour over wages not being paid in a timely fashion. An investigation revealed the claimants were owed a total of roughly $75,000. All wages were eventually paid, but some claimants waited up to a year for their entitlements.

Premier Fitness Clubs Inc. pleaded guilty to failing to promptly pay 38 employees and former employees approximately $75,000 in wages. Neil Proctor pleaded guilty to the same.

The fines were imposed by Justice of the Peace Michael Barnes. In addition to the fines, the court imposed a 25-per-cent victim fine surcharge, as required by the Provincial Offences Act. The surcharge is credited to a special provincial government fund to assist victims of crime.

Court Information At A Glance

Location: Ontario Court of Justice
                                   5 Ray Lawson Blvd.
                                   Brampton, ON

Judge: Justice of the Peace Michael Barnes

Date of Sentencing: January 24, 2012

Defendant: Premier Fitness Clubs Inc.

Matter: Employment Standards

Conviction: Employment Standards Act, Section 11

Crown Counsel: Line Forestier and Natasha Wilson

Matt Blajer

Communications Branch
416-326-7405