Alberta is moving to tighten control over immigration practices with new legislation aimed at cracking down on fraud and increasing provincial oversight of employers, recruiters and consultants.Jobs, Economy, Trade and Immigration Minister Joseph Schow introduced Bill 26, the Immigration Oversight Act, arguing the federal government has lost control of the system, leading to rapid population growth, strain on services and exploitation by bad actors.The proposed law would require employers to register with the province before accessing federal temporary foreign worker programs and would introduce a licensing regime for immigration consultants and foreign worker recruiters.Schow said the changes are designed to improve accountability and ensure immigration better reflects Alberta’s labour market needs while protecting vulnerable workers.The legislation would also create a public registry allowing workers to verify whether employers and recruiters are authorized, while giving the province stronger enforcement powers, including fines, licence suspensions and bans.Officials say the measures target issues such as fake job offers, illegal fees and misrepresentation, which have been linked to exploitation and labour trafficking..Paul Brandt, chair of the Alberta Centre to End Trafficking in Persons, backed the legislation, calling it an important step to protect newcomers and disrupt trafficking networks.While most employers and consultants follow the rules, the province says the new framework will bring Alberta in line with jurisdictions like British Columbia and Saskatchewan, which already have similar oversight systems.Immigration remains a shared responsibility between federal and provincial governments, but Alberta officials say the province lacks a comprehensive system to monitor those involved in hiring foreign nationals.The government argues the new rules will increase transparency, protect workers and ensure immigration supports economic growth while restoring public confidence in how the system is managed.
