Immigration Oversight Act will create additional hiring barriers for Alberta restaurants

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Postmedia has not reviewed the content. by GlobeNewswire Article contentVancouver, April 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — The Immigration Oversight Act introduced by the Alberta government yesterday will create more barriers for access to critically needed labour at a time when restaurants are already struggling with labour shortages.Sign In or Create an AccountEmail AddressContinueor View more offersArticle content“The preference is always to hire Albertans, but in some regions, there are just not enough workers available, or they don’t have the right training and skills,” said Kelly Higginson, President and CEO of Restaurants Canada. “You can’t operate a kitchen without a trained chef or maintain a 24/7 rest stop if no one is willing to work overnight.”Article contentWe apologize, but this video has failed to load.Try refreshing your browser, ortap here to see other videos from our team.Article contentArticle contentRestaurants in Alberta are a $16B industry, accounting for 3.3% of the province’s GDP. They employ 155,000 Albertans, including 63,000 youth, who represent more than 40% of foodservice workers. Over the last year, youth employment in Alberta’s restaurant sector grew by 4.7%. But young workers often have limited availability due to school and other commitments and are concentrated in urban areas close to higher education institutions.Article contentTop StoriesGet the latest headlines, breaking news and columns.There was an error, please provide a valid email address.Sign UpBy signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.Thanks for signing up!A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder.The next issue of Top Stories will soon be in your inbox.We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try againInterested in more newsletters? Browse here.Article contentRestaurants that can’t find workers locally often have no other option but to resort to the Temporary Foreign Worker (TFW) program. Recruiting TFWs is already a long, costly and complex process and the proposed legislation adds unnecessary and costly red tape for small businesses. Businesses must prove they are unable to recruit locally, at the prevailing market wage, before they can apply for the program and TFW wages are set by the federal government. Article contentTFWs make up just 3% of the foodservice workforce but they are critical, particularly for skilled roles like chefs and cooks, for overnight shifts and in rural regions where there are not enough workers. If Alberta’s restaurant industry can’t access skilled foreign workers for these essential roles, they may have to make difficult decisions, like shortening hours of operation, cutting shifts or closing their doors entirelyArticle contentArticle content“Restaurants are a great place for entry-level workers, including youth and newcomers to Canada, to gain valuable experience and foundational skills that support long-term career growth,” said Cheryl Maitland Muir, Vice President for Western Canada for Restaurants Canada. “With more than 70,000 restaurant job vacancies across the country, being able to attract and retain workers is critical to a thriving restaurant sector.”Article contentCracking down on fraudulent activity and ensuring the protection of workers is important in maintaining the integrity of the TFW program, the restaurant industry and the reputation of Alberta as a desirable place to live and work. However, adding additional and duplicative layers of administration to the hiring process for employers in an already challenging labour market will have negative consequences for restaurants serving communities across the province.Article contentRestaurants Canada urges the government of Alberta to work with the restaurant industry on long-term solutions for its workforce needs, including strengthening existing Alberta initiatives such as the Youth Employment Incentive program and the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program Tourism and Hospitality Stream, and identifying new pathways to permanent residency for workers. More information on the ongoing labour shortages in foodservice and policy solutions can be found on ManyHandsWork.ca.Article contentAbout Restaurants CanadaRestaurants Canada is a national, not-for-profit association advancing Canada’s diverse and dynamic foodservice industry. Restaurants are a $125 billion industry employing 1.2 million Canadians and the number one source of first-time jobs in Canada. Visit restaurantscanada.org for more information.Article contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentCheryl Maitland Muir Restaurants Canada 604-828-6961 cmuir@restaurantscanada.org Article contentTrending CRA denied taxpayer with multiple health issues the disability tax credit Personal Finance Fighting U.S. Tariffs, Canada mulls its own as cheap imports surge Economy U.S. targets Canada’s cloud-computing move as trade irritant Economy Posthaste: Look for the Canadian dollar to be an 'underperformer' once the war winds down, says CIBC News Snowbirds moving back home drives demand for cottage properties, says Royal LePage Real Estate Share this article in your social networkCommentsYou must be logged in to join the discussion or read more comments.Create an AccountSign in Join the Conversation Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information. CRA denied taxpayer with multiple health issues the disability tax credit Personal Finance Fighting U.S. Tariffs, Canada mulls its own as cheap imports surge Economy U.S. targets Canada’s cloud-computing move as trade irritant Economy Posthaste: Look for the Canadian dollar to be an 'underperformer' once the war winds down, says CIBC News Snowbirds moving back home drives demand for cottage properties, says Royal LePage Real Estate