Alberta's hospitality industry is raising alarm bells over the province's newly introduced Immigration Oversight Act, warning that stricter regulations on temporary foreign workers could cripple restaurants already struggling with staffing shortages.
The legislation, tabled April 1, requires businesses to register with the province before hiring temporary foreign workers through the federally-regulated TFW program. It also establishes a licensing system for immigration consultants and recruiters — a move intended to give Alberta greater control over its immigration pipeline.
Jobs and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow framed the bill as a safeguard to ensure Albertans get "first crack at Alberta jobs." He stressed the act is "absolutely not" about restricting temporary foreign worker numbers, but rather ensuring employers hire from outside Canada only when local talent isn't available.
But restaurant owners and hospitality operators paint a different picture — one of red tape, mounting delays, and workforce crisis.
The Wait Is the Problem
Michael Leslie, general manager of the Iron Goat Pub in Canmore, doesn't mince words: "Canadians aren't jumping up to do these jobs."
"Being in the hospital and cleaning the walls, cleaning the halls. They're not into going out working on the farm. Temporary foreign workers are happy to be part of a team, and their dedication is unsurmountable."
For tourism-dependent mountain towns, losing access to reliable temporary workers threatens the entire visitor experience. Leslie points out that with increased international travel — particularly from Europe and the United States — restaurants and hospitality businesses need robust staffing to maintain service quality.
Ernie Tsu, owner of Trolley 5 on Calgary's 17th Avenue and a board member of the Alberta Hospitality Association, warns the new registration process will create dangerous delays.
"It's another step that creates some time," Tsu said. Looking south to British Columbia, which implemented similar oversight requirements, the picture isn't encouraging. "You've got restaurants that have been waiting for up to 90 days — three months — and still not getting an answer."
For a restaurant operating on thin margins, a three-month hiring delay could mean lost revenue, cancelled events, and frustrated customers.
Missing the Conversation
What frustrates operators most is feeling shut out of the process. Tsu feels the province rushed ahead without genuinely consulting the hospitality sector.
"We had light dialogue," he said, suggesting the government could have worked more closely with industry leaders before introducing the bill.
Restaurants Canada, the national industry association, echoed that concern in a statement urging the provincial government to "work with the restaurant industry on long-term solutions for its workforce needs."
The tension highlights a fundamental challenge: Alberta's hospitality sector depends on reliable access to international workers, yet the government is tightening the valve without a clear replacement strategy for filling those positions domestically.
As the legislation moves forward, restaurant owners across Alberta and beyond will be watching British Columbia's experience closely — and hoping their provincial government acts faster than its neighbours to the west.
This story was adapted from reporting by Salim Valji at CBC Edmonton. Original article published April 10, 2024.