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July 16, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 4 minutes of reading • 5 comments CBSA officials found dozens of foreign workers without proper documentation working at Chateau Lake Louise, pictured here. Photo by Peter Brosseau / Calgary Herald
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Dozens of foreign workers at Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and other Rocky Mountain hotels have been arrested and deported by federal border officials investigating how they illegally arrived at iconic resorts.
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Last Tuesday, Canada Border Services Agency staff gathered more than 30 employees at the iconic Lake Louise Hotel, which one of their colleagues said came from Mexico, working under potentially inadequate immigration documentation.
“We can confirm that CBSA officers were at Lake Louise on July 12 as part of an ongoing investigation into the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Canada Penal Code,” the spokeswoman said. of Border Services, Rebecca Purdy, in an email.
“If a person is found to be working in Canada without a valid work permit, the CBSA will consider appropriate enforcement measures, which may include the issuance of an expulsion order. The Agency has a legal obligation to withdraw all foreign nationals deemed ineligible in Canada under the IRPA “.
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One of his co-workers at Chateau Lake Louise said the CBSA operation shocked both the detained staff members and their colleagues.
“Workers received a notice knocking on the door, queuing up and preparing to be deported,” said the employee, who wished to remain anonymous.
“Obviously, it’s pretty traumatic for them.”
It comes at a time when the Bow Valley hospitality industry and those helping to hire staff have said there is a particularly acute shortage of manpower to cope with this year’s intense summer season. .
A Fairmont Hotels and Resorts spokesman said his hiring was done as a result of these pressures and could affect a total of 105 of its employees in Lake Louise, as well as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Jasper Park Lodge.
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“Hotels use third-party staffing agencies to help with challenges related to labor shortages,” said Anastasia Martin-Stilwell.
In this case, the external staff provider had facilitated the arrival and payment of workers at the three hotels, he said, adding that the tourist chain has broken its partnership with the company.
“(The third party company) was hired to be responsible for ensuring all appropriate documentation for people, comply with all applicable laws and represent that all workers supplied to hotels would be hired properly and would have the ability to work legally in Canada “. he said in an email.
“We are very disappointed with (his) operations and his negligence in his hiring practices. The decisions made by (the contractor) have real and consequent effects on his hired workers.”
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The 31 hired employees working in the administration, kitchen, cleaning and residence divisions in Lake Louise have been deported, he added.
The Fairmont Hotel and Resorts has offered free accommodation and food for up to 10 days and transportation to Calgary and Edmonton for other affected contract workers and is also looking for ways to hire those who have the right documentation, Martin-Stilwell said.
“We are working diligently to identify opportunities to support affected contract workers to the best of our ability,” he said, adding that assistance has its limits.
“According to the guidance provided by CBSA, the RCMP and our in-house lawyer, we have learned that we are not legally allowed to offer financial compensation to (these) hired workers.”
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The co-worker of the foreign employees said the loss of so many staff members at Chateau Lake Louise has negatively affected a number of services.
“The hotel already had staffing issues, so it has had an immediate impact on the hotel and its ability to attract tourists,” the worker said.
For example, hotel restaurants can only accommodate diners with prior reservations and not with visitors, the employee said.
Hotel chain spokesman Martin-Stilwell said they “work diligently to minimize any impact on the guest experience and will continue to offer high quality hospitality deals to our guests and maintain regular operations.”
The problem facing Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is a “one-time situation” in a hospitality industry that is taken seriously when it comes to observing ethical hiring practices, said Wanda Bogdane, executive director of the Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association.
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“While it is incredibly rare to come across a circumstance like the one that developed recently, organizations that hire services in good faith can also be a victim in a negligent process,” he said in an email.
“Employers remain vigilant to comply with and exceed labor standards identified by the provincial and federal government.”
Late last month, a recruitment agency operating in Banff-Canmore said the area, significantly dependent on foreign workers, had between 1,000 and 2,000 employees due to the uncertainties of pandemic travel and other job options.
Bogdane said the region’s hospitality sector “has adequate staff and will offer the same great experience for which Banff National Park is known. They will continue to manage customer recruitment based on their staffing levels to ensure that standards remain high “.
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn
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