Union warns Alberta referendum result could worsen labour shortages

CALGARY · The narrow passage of Alberta's referendum on immigration policies has sparked warnings of worsening labour shortages. A union official at a major beef plant says the proposals could deter the workers needed for difficult jobs. The referendum asked voters if they supported limiting or charging fees for provincial services based on immigration status. Premier Danielle Smith's government has argued that providing health care and education to temporary residents costs $1 billion annually. Critics say the result could make the province less attractive to newcomers when many sectors need employees.

Faduma Ahmed of the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 401 at Cargill's High River plant said the jobs are tough and have high turnover. "These are tough and high turnover jobs with few candidates lining up to fill them," she said. She explained that temporary foreign workers, refugees, permanent residents and citizens all work together at the plant and pay taxes. The work involves hoisting whole carcasses and is physically demanding. Ahmed said workers have expressed concern about potentially having to pay for health care and their children's schooling.

"When we sit down to eat, we rarely think about the intense and the gruelling labour it takes to get the food onto our tables, right on our plate," Ahmed said. She described the workers as foundational to the economy and facing the same affordability crisis as other Albertans. The union has pledged to take a firm stand if the proposals become law. "We will fight to ensure immigrant workers receive the same services they do today, up to and including making the employers pay at the bargaining table to fund the differences," Ahmed said.

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Health care for seniors is another sector heavily reliant on immigrant workers. Leah Lechelt, executive director of the Christian Health Association of Alberta, said newcomers often fill roles Canadians may not want. Her organization represents non-profits employing 22,000 staff. "Often we'll find they'll work in roles that maybe some Canadians may not be interested in," Lechelt said. She noted that some college programs for health-care aides have closed or reduced enrolment due to a lack of domestic applicants.

The workforce in senior care comes from around the world and includes health-care aides, cleaners and food-service staff. Regulations largely restrict these jobs to permanent residents and citizens because they involve vulnerable patients. Lechelt said the roles can be attractive for newcomers who may be improving their English skills. The association runs an apprenticeship program to help entry-level workers train to become health-care aides. "And then we can backfill those positions with other newcomers, maybe starting out in their journey in Canada," she said.

Another referendum proposal asked if Alberta should take more control of immigration from the federal government. Adam Legge, president of the Business Council of Alberta, said his group has long advocated for this. "There's a bit of a better on-the-ground intel perspective compared to a centralized decision in Ottawa," Legge said. He argued there are often mismatches between the skills Ottawa approves and what the province needs, such as in skilled trades. Legge said he has heard from business members who do not want policies that deter people from choosing Alberta.

With files from The Canadian Press, BNN Bloomberg and Global News