The lifting of COVID-19 health restrictions in Alberta has not alleviated the labor crisis in the province’s tourist towns.
© Emilio Avalos/Radio Canada
The labor shortage in the tourism sector affects Banff and Canmore in particular. (Archives)
At the Banff and Canmore Employment Centers, job offers do not receive no answer“, according to the director, Michel Dufresne.
Before the pandemic, the center might cater to regarding 100 clients on its busiest days, whereas today it’s regarding 10 people who show up on a good day, he notes.
In towns like Banff and Canmore, hotels, restaurants, tour companies, ski resorts and other businesses often depend on foreign workers, he says. Until 2020, these accounted for almost half of the region’s workers.
When making their plans for the summer and the potential arrival of many tourists, these companies are worried.
We used to live with what is called a labor shortage, in Banff and Canmore“, explains Michel Dufresne.
I keep saying that [la situation] will get better, but I’ve been saying it for six months [et il ne s’est rien passé].»
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The Job Center usually begins to receive more responses towards the end of April, when university students finish their semester.
People arrive in May, but [en ce moment] we don’t have this kind of request yet, as we had them in the past“, he adds.
Accelerate the processing of immigration applications
According to Michel Dufresne, the shortage might, among other things, be caused by the slowdown in the processing of applications from international workers.
It can take 12 to 18 months from an employer’s selection of a foreign worker to their arrival in Canada, says Banff and Lake Louise Hotel Association President and Rimrock Hotel Manager Trevor Long. Need to speed up the processhe says.
According to him, housing is also a problem. If several affordable housing projects are under development, it will take more to hope to alleviate the labor shortage, he believes.
He adds that certain incentives, such as subsidized housing, meals provided, access to the ski slopes, free public transit and benefits for employees who remain might encourage more workers to settle in the region.
We desperately need employees. We are coming out of the pandemic and want to embark on economic recovery, but if we don’t have the right staff, it will be difficult», conclut Trevor Long.
With information from Jade Markus
