Contractor Fraud Conviction

On Thursday, March 12, 2015, the Provincial Court of Alberta found Geralyn Plaviak and Michael Arsenault guilty of a combined 13 counts of non-compliance under the Alberta Fair Trade Act.

Plaviak and Arsenault managed a contracting company that operated under the names of AAA Enterprises, Canadian National Interiors and Fair Trades. They frequently targeted senior citizens under the pretext of providing contractor work to homes in which the seniors lived. During the process the couple worked to solicit more funds from homeowners through fraudulent means.

Plaviak was fined with nine counts of contravening section 11(3) of the Business Licence Bylaw; failing to maintain standards and requirements of legislation, specifically the Alberta Fair Trade Act; and one count of contravening section 3(1) of the Business Licence Bylaw for carrying on business as a distribution manager without a valid licence for that purpose. She was fined a total of $35,000.

Arsenault was fined with three counts of contravening section 3(1) of the Business Licence Bylaw; carrying on business as a contractor without a valid licence for that purpose; and one count of contravening section 29(7) of the Business Licence Bylaw, advertising as a contractor. He was fined a total of $10,500.

“We are satisfied with the conviction as citizens need to know the people they invite into their homes are properly licensed and will do high quality work, safely and in alignment with best business practices,” said Marc Halat, manager with The City of Calgary, Compliance Services.

Compliance Services was first notified about Plaviak and Arsenault through a complaint they received in the spring of 2013. The complaint suggested they were targeting seniors and taking large sums of money related to proposed or completed work.

“The collaboration between Service Alberta and The City of Calgary was the key to the successful conviction of both Plaviak and Arsenault,” said Halat.

Visit The City of Calgary or Service Alberta for more information on business licences and the applicable legislation and bylaws.