Bill 26: What’s Changing for Hotel Employers in Alberta

Bill 26, the Immigration Oversight Act, significantly restructures Alberta’s oversight of employers who recruit or employ foreign nationals. The Act introduces a mandatory provincial registration regime for employers, enhanced enforcement powers, and a strong policy link between access to foreign labour and workplace compliance. 

The AHLA and our members broadly support stronger protections and improved oversight, particularly where it targets bad actors and unethical recruitment practices. However, we are concerned about the time, effort, and cost that the Immigration Oversight Act will mean for reputable employers if the Regulation does not consider existing evidence of compliance.

Once proclaimed, employers will be unable to recruit or hire foreign workers without holding a valid Alberta registration certificate, regardless of any federal approvals. For Alberta’s hotel sector, already experiencing acute and ongoing labour shortages, Bill 26 represents a material shift in labour access risk, compliance expectations, and administrative burden. 

 

Where Bill 26 Could Create Challenges for Hotels

• Introduces a new provincial layer on top of existing federal hiring requirements
• Risks longer, more complex hiring timelines that can create staffing gaps
• May slow operations, increase overtime costs, and impact service delivery
• Delays to permits or renewals could result in losing trained, experienced team members
• Forces employers to restart recruitment processes for roles that were already filled
• Places added administrative burden on reputable employers already following the rules
• Creates the risk that bad actors continue to operate outside the system if processes become too slow or unclear

 

AHLA’s Recommendations: Practical, Balanced Solutions

• Align provincial requirements with existing federal processes to avoid duplication
• Recognize industry-led compliance tools, including AHLA’s Elevate program and Approved Employer framework
• Provide clear timelines, plain-language guidance, and accessible support contacts
• Apply rules consistently, with enforcement focused on bad actors
• Phase in changes while protecting current workers and valid permits
• Secure access to federal rural measures under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program

 

Alberta hotels support protecting workers and strengthening the integrity of the immigration system. We believe the most effective framework under Bill 26 will be practical, coordinated, and responsive to the labour realities facing Alberta’s hotel sector. 

Read our Submission HERE.