Particle.news
Download on the App Store
7 ARTICLES
·
last mo.

Alberta Tables Bill to Register Employers Hiring Temporary Foreign Workers

The proposal signals a bid for more provincial say over labour immigration with stronger tools against worker abuse.

As of last October, Alberta had more than 161,000 temporary work-permit holders, according to Statistics Canada. By comparison, about 43,500 temporary workers lived in the province at the beginning of 2022.
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, right, stands with new Minister of Jobs, Economy, Trade, and Immigration, Joseph Schow, following a swearing in ceremony in Calgary, Friday, May 16, 2025.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jeff McIntosh
House Leader Joseph Schow speaks to the media at the Alberta Legislature, in Edmonton Feb. 24, 2026.
Image

Overview

  • Bill 26, tabled Wednesday in Alberta’s legislature, would require employers to register with the province before hiring through the federal Temporary Foreign Worker program.
  • The plan creates a public registry so people can verify approved employers and sets provincial licensing for immigration consultants and recruiters to stop fake job offers, illegal fees, and document withholding.
  • The bill outlines enforcement that includes licence suspensions and hiring bans, with reported maximum fines of up to $1 million for individuals, $1.5 million for corporations, and possible jail terms up to 12 months.
  • Officials acknowledge the new step duplicates Ottawa’s screening but say it gives Alberta clearer data on labour needs and reflects the UCP push for more control ahead of an October referendum on immigration policy.
  • The government plans consultations to set detailed rules, with regulations to define eligibility and penalties and a target for the law to take effect in early 2027.