Bill 26: Immigration Oversight Act

This bill touches three main groups in Alberta: businesses that recruit or hire foreign workers (from agriculture and hospitality to construction and tech), individual recruiters who help match foreign workers with employers, and immigration consultants who charge fees to help people navigate the immigration process. Any employer — whether a sole operator or a large company — who brings in foreign nationals for work will need to apply for and renew a certificate of registration every three years, keep detailed records, and comply with codes of conduct. Recruiters and consultants who charge for their services must be licensed and are now prohibited from collecting fees from workers themselves, misrepresenting job opportunities, or taking someone's passport. Contracts must be in writing with clear fee disclosures, and all disputes are governed by Alberta law.