The restaurant business has faced many problems since the pandemic, including labour shortages.

Restaurants are struggling with high costs and low customer spending.

A new law may make things harder for the already struggling industry.

The law is called Bill 26, or the Immigration Oversight Act.

It will create a public list of employers who hire foreign workers and require licenses.

The goal is to protect foreign workers and meet Alberta's labour needs.

The minister said the current system relies too much on temporary foreign workers.

This means some jobs that should go to young Canadians are going to foreigners.

The minister said the law will help Alberta control immigration and fill needed jobs.

There are 271,024 non-permanent residents in Alberta, with 60% having work permits.

These numbers have decreased since last year, with 26,000 fewer non-permanent residents.

The foodservice industry in Alberta is worth $16 billion and employs 155,000 people.

Restaurants in rural areas struggle to find workers, especially young people.

Young people often have limited schedules and are mostly found in cities.

Restaurants need trained chefs and workers to operate, especially at night.

Temporary foreign workers are important for skilled roles and rural areas.

Businesses look to foreign workers because they can't find local workers, despite the high costs.

The new law may create more bureaucracy, not less.

This doesn't seem like reducing red tape.

The process will duplicate federal rules, but the minister says it's necessary.

The government will create a registry of approved employers and license immigration consultants.

A new system will handle complaints and enforcement, targeting those who exploit workers.

The regulatory framework is similar to other provinces, but with different powers.

Penalties will include fines, suspensions, and bans.

The maximum fine is $1 million for individuals and $1.5 million for corporations.

An economist says it's hard to predict the economic impact of the new measures.

It's difficult to analyze the benefits and costs without more information.

Protecting workers and cracking down on fraud is important for the program.

The hospitality association hopes the government will support successful programs instead.

The bill is currently being considered by the legislature.

If passed, the law could be implemented as early as 2027.

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