Conference Had Hidden Agenda

The Royal Canadian Mounted Police and immigration officials are investigating whether a business conference in Ontario was a ploy to help Chinese businessmen enter Canada.

The investigation was launched after suspicious conference organizers informed immigration officials that as many as 75 of the 87 people who arrived in Toronto from southwest China on April 17 stopped showing up for seminars, Immigration Canada spokesman Kevin Sack said Friday.

Some of the Chinese have returned home, but the government does not know where 75 of them are, Sack said.

A private group organized the weeklong conference with funding from municipal, provincial and federal governments. An official said the name of the group wouldn’t be released until the investigation was finished.