Alberta’s government is proposing changes to give it more oversight of which businesses are hiring temporary foreign workers.
Jobs and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow proposed a bill Wednesday that, if passed, will require businesses to register with the province before enlisting foreign nationals through the federal program.
The process will effectively duplicate work already being done by Ottawa but Schow said it’s necessary to prioritize and address Alberta’s unique labour market needs, particularly in agriculture and manufacturing.
He didn’t offer any specifics about how Alberta’s system might differ from the federal government’s criteria, noting those details will be worked out in regulations should the bill pass.
“What this comes down to is addressing things like unemployment in Alberta (and) making sure that Albertans have first crack at Alberta jobs,” Schow told reporters before introducing the bill.
Schow said his government won’t tolerate employers, immigration consultants or recruiters exploiting foreign workers or making false promises, because it could affect Alberta’s reputation.
Province wants to give Albertans first crack at new jobs
He said the legislation is about Alberta taking more control over immigration to fill jobs where needed and is “absolutely not” about restricting the number of temporary foreign workers coming to the province.
“What it’s intended to do is make sure that businesses that are hiring people coming from out of country are actually doing so because they cannot find the employees in Alberta.”
He added the current system favours hiring foreign nationals for some entry-level positions, bypassing young Canadians.
Still, Schow said he wants access to more data and have a clear line of sight on immigration. He said the province doesn’t have precise information about the number of people who come to other parts of Canada and then move to Alberta, adding the federal government hasn’t been forthcoming about such information.
The new rules are expected to take effect in early 2027.
Schow said the registration will add steps for employers and “duplicate some work,” but said the transition period will give employers and service providers time to comply without disruption.
British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba and Nova Scotia already require employers hiring temporary foreign workers to pre-register with those provincial governments.
Government officials said the plan is to publish the registry of employers who are approved to hire foreign workers.
The bill will also establish a licensing system for immigration consultants and foreign worker recruiters to crack down on those who take advantage of vulnerable newcomers.
A new system for complaints and enforcement will be handled by Schow’s ministry.
It aims to target those who charge money for job offers, misrepresent employment conditions, take illegal pay deductions or keep workers’ documents like passports.
Government officials said the regulatory framework proposed Wednesday is similar to existing legislation in Saskatchewan and British Columbia but will allow for different investigative powers.
Penalties will include fines, suspensions and bans from recruiting or hiring foreign nationals, with maximum fines of up to $1 million for individuals or $1.5 million for corporations. In severe cases, courts can imprison someone for up to a year.
Rob Calver, strategic engagement and development director of the Building Trades of Alberta, has been advocating for change after raising alarms about worker exploitation in the province’s construction industry.
He says some unscrupulous companies recruit temporary foreign workers who initially arrived in other provinces, paying them in cash and skirting employment rules to cut costs. He said these workers have no recourse if their employer breaks the law, and no help if they are injured.
Calver said the legislation is needed to ensure Alberta tradespeople and businesses operating legally have access to work.
“We hope that these bad actors see that trying to manipulate the system for profit is not going to be in their benefit, because they will be taken off of bid lists,” Calver said. “We can’t just have somebody start up a new numbered company and keep doing this over and over, which is what’s happening.”
However, the legislation is worrying to small businesses, says Keylil Loeppky, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business’ director for Alberta and interprovincial trade.
She said more than half of Alberta small businesses rely on foreign workers to stay in operation, especially in agriculture.
“This does not look like red tape reduction,” Loeppky said of bureaucratic frustrations for businesses. “This looks like duplication, more burdensome paperwork on the backs of employers who are just trying to survive, employ Albertans and support the economy.”
British Columbia’s program has a wait time of six weeks to register a business wishing to hire temporary foreign workers. Loeppky says that’s too long for a small business when their labour needs are urgent.
A small operation could also go out of business if it’s slapped with a huge fine under the legislation, she said.
Schow’s bill comes as Premier Danielle Smith’s United Conservatives prepare to put five questions on immigration policy to a vote in October, including proposals to restrict social services from some immigrants and to charge a fee to non-permanent residents to access health and education.
One question asks if Alberta should take increased control over immigration “for the purposes of decreasing immigration to more sustainable levels, prioritizing economic migration and giving Albertans first priority on new employment opportunities.”
When asked why the government was proposing the bill before getting approval on that referendum question, Schow said they are two different things and the bill can’t wait.
According to provincial statistics, there are 271,024 non-permanent residents in Alberta. As of Jan. 1, about 60 per cent of those held work permits and six per cent held work and study permits.
Those numbers have all decreased compared with the same time last year. The number of non-permanent residents fell by almost 26,000.
Schow pointed to the growth of work permit holders from 2021 to 2025, saying they skyrocketed from 45,000 to almost 180,000. Schow said immigration in Canada is unmanageable, with a “mass influx” of the number of temporary foreign workers, asylum seekers and international students driving significant costs for the provincial government in health care and social services.
Lizette Tejada, Opposition NDP immigration critic, said while the bill may address exploitative practices, other parts of it encroach on federal jurisdiction.
“Given the divisive rhetoric that is already being used in relation to immigrants by this UCP government, we are concerned about them taking more control,” she said.
