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July 16, 2022 • 4 hours ago • 4 minutes read • 5 comments CBSA officers found dozens of undocumented foreign workers working at Chateau Lake Louise, pictured here. Photo by Peter Brosseau/Calgary Herald
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Dozens of foreign workers at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and other Rocky Mountain hotels have been detained and deported by federal border officials who are investigating how they came to the iconic resorts illegally.
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Last Tuesday, Canadian Border Patrol agents arrested more than 30 employees at the iconic Lake Louise hotel who one of their colleagues said were from Mexico, working with potentially improper immigration documents.
“We can confirm that CBSA officers were in Lake Lewis on July 12 as part of an ongoing investigation under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Criminal Code of Canada,” Border Services spokeswoman Rebecca Purdy said in an email.
“If an individual is found to be working in Canada without a valid work permit, the CBSA will consider appropriate enforcement action, which may include issuing a removal order. The agency has a legal obligation to remove any foreign nationals found to be inadmissible to Canada under the IRPA.
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One of their colleagues at Chateau Lake Louise said the CBSA operation came as a shock to both the detained officers and their colleagues.
“The workers were notified with a knock on the door, lined up and prepared for deportation,” said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity.
“It’s obviously quite traumatic for them.”
It comes at a time when the Bow Valley’s hospitality industry and those helping to recruit said there is a particularly acute labor shortage to handle this year’s busy summer season.
A spokesperson for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts said the hiring was done as a result of that pressure and could affect a total of 105 employees at Lake Louise, as well as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Jasper Park Lodge.
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“Hotels use third-party recruitment agencies to help with labor shortage challenges,” said Anastasia Martin-Stillwell.
In that case, the third-party staffing provider facilitated the workers’ arrival and pay at all three hotels, she said, adding that the resort chain ended its partnership with the firm.
“(The third-party company) was agreed to be responsible for ensuring all appropriate documentation for the individuals, complying with all applicable laws and declaring that all workers provided to the hotels will be properly employed and have the ability to work legally in Canada,” said her in an email.
“We are very disappointed in (their) operations and their negligence in their hiring practices. Decisions made by (the contractor) have real, consequential effects on their contract workers.’
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The 31 contract employees who worked in the stewards, culinary, housekeeping and housing departments at Lake Louise were deported, she added.
Fairmont Hotel and Resorts has offered free room and board for up to 10 days and transportation to Calgary and Edmonton for other affected contract employees and is also looking at ways to hire those whose paperwork is in order, Martin-Stillwell said.
“We are working diligently to identify opportunities to support affected contract workers in the best possible way,” she said, adding that aid has its limits.
“Following guidance provided by the CBSA, the RCMP and our in-house counsel, we have learned that we are not legally permitted to provide financial compensation to (these) contract workers.”
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The foreign worker’s colleague said the loss of so many staff members at Chateau Lake Louise had negatively affected a number of services there.
“The hotel already had staffing issues so this had an immediate impact on the hotel and its ability to attract tourists,” the worker said.
For example, the hotel’s restaurants can only accept dinners with advance reservations, but not walk-ins, the official said.
A spokesperson for the Martin-Stillwell hotel chain said they are “working diligently to minimize any impact on the guest experience and will continue to provide high-quality hospitality offerings to our guests and maintain regular operations.”
The issue facing Fairmont Hotels and Resorts is a “one-time situation” in a hospitality industry that is serious about ethical hiring practices, said Wanda Bogdan, executive director of the Banff & Lake Louise Hospitality Association.
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“While it is incredibly rare to encounter a circumstance such as the one that occurred recently, organizations contracting services in good faith can also be victimized in a negligent process,” she said in an email.
“Employers remain vigilant in meeting and exceeding labor standards set by the provincial and federal governments.”
Late last month, a staffing agency operating in Banff-Canmore said the area, heavily dependent on foreign workers, has a shortfall of between 1,000 and 2,000 employees due to pandemic uncertainty in travel and other employment opportunities.
Bogdan said the hospitality sector in the region is “adequately equipped and will provide the same great experience that Banff National Park is known for. They will continue to manage customer intake against their staffing levels to ensure standards remain high.”
BKaufmann@postmedia.com
Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn
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