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Dozens of foreign workers at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and other Rocky Mountain hotels have been arrested and deported by federal border officials who are investigating how they arrived at the iconic resorts illegally.

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Last Tuesday, Canada Border Services Agency personnel rounded up more than 30 employees at the iconic Lake Louise hotel who one of their colleagues said were originally from Mexico and working with potentially improper immigration documents. “We can confirm that CBSA officers were in Lake Louise on July 12 as part of an ongoing investigation into immigration and refugee protection 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 all foreign nationals deemed 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 staff members and their colleagues. “Workers were given notice, lined up and prepared to be deported,” said the employee, who spoke on condition of anonymity. “It’s obviously quite traumatic for them.” It comes at a time when the Bow Valley hospitality industry and those helping to recruit staff have said there is a particularly acute labor shortage to deal with this year’s busy summer season. A spokesman for Fairmont Hotels and Resorts said the hiring came as a result of those pressures and could affect a total of 105 of its staff at Lake Louise, as well as the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel and Jasper Park Lodge.

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“Hotels are using third-party staffing agencies to help with labor shortage challenges,” said Anastasia Martin-Stilwell. In that case, the third-party staffing provider had facilitated the arrival and payment of workers at all three hotels, he said, adding that the resort chain had terminated its partnership with the company. “(The third company) was assigned to be responsible for guaranteeing all proper documents for individuals, compliance with all applicable laws and declaring that all workers provided to the hotels would be properly recruited and allowed to work legally in Canada.” he said in an email. “We are very disappointed in (their) operations and their negligence in their recruitment 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 management, cooking, housekeeping and housing at Lake Louise were fired, he added. Fairmont Hotel and Resorts is offering free room and board for up to 10 days and transportation to Calgary and Edmonton for other affected contract workers and is also looking into ways to hire those whose paperwork is in order, Martin-Stilwell said. “We are working diligently to identify opportunities to support the affected contract workers as best we can,” he said, adding that assistance has its limits. “With 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 staff colleague said the loss of so many staff members at Chateau Lake Louise has adversely affected a number of services there. “The hotel already had staffing issues, so it had a direct impact on the hotel and its ability to attract tourists,” the worker said. For example, restaurants in the hotel can only accommodate customers with prior reservations and not walk-ins, the official said. Hotel chain spokesperson Martin-Stilwell 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 an “unique situation” in a hospitality sector that is serious about upholding 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 encounter a circumstance like the one that unfolded recently, organizations that outsource services in good faith can also be the victim of a negligence proceeding,” he said in an email. “Employers remain vigilant in meeting and exceeding labor standards set by the provincial and federal government.” Late last month, a recruitment agency operating in Banff-Canmore said the region, which is heavily dependent on foreign workers, was short of between 1,000 and 2,000 employees due to a pandemic travel uncertainties and other employment options. Bogdane said the hospitality sector in the area is “adequately staffed and will provide the same great experience that Banff National Park is known for. They will continue to manage client recruitment in relation to staffing levels to ensure standards remain high.” [email protected] Twitter: @BillKaufmannjrn

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