The Alberta government is trying to dampen an embarrassing controversy. It’s pulling the plug on a planned foreign worker recruitment trip to the United Arab Emirates. The announcement came late Sunday in a statement from Muhammad Yaseen, Minister of Immigration and Multiculturalism, after a wave of criticism came from the province’s labor leaders.
The trip was proposed for late February/early March as part of wider 2025 international recruitment in an effort to make the most of the UAE’s supply of trained workers. Little more than a proposal, the plan nevertheless found itself in the crosshairs of fierce scrutiny.
CBC News first reported last Friday that the ministry intends to do so, unleashing a storm of controversy over the implications of such a recruitment drive. Labor unions and opposition parties panned the plan as unnecessary to seek out workers from outside the country when there were plenty of Albertans still out of work.
Gil McGowan, president of the Alberta Federation of Labour (AFL), didn’t mince words in his criticism. “It’s not just galling, it’s completely unacceptable,” he stated, expressing disbelief at the government’s willingness to facilitate overseas recruitment when, in his view, there are plenty of capable workers already in the province.
The controversy deepened when a one-page document outlining the mission’s objectives came to light. Shared with CBC News by the federal NDP and Local 424 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, the document painted a picture of an extensive operation. It described the UAE labor force as “substantively vetted” and with “a very high proficiency in English,” as if to position them as a perfect fit into Alberta’s labor market.
In addition, the same document indicated that the Alberta government was ready to provide such a major backing for the project. This included assistance with venue arrangements, promotion of job opportunities, interview logistics, informational workshops, and even travel recommendations for employers participating in the recruitment drive.
As criticism mounted, Minister Yaseen found himself in the hot seat. In his Sunday press release he disclosed how the ministry had only recently learned of the alleged recruitment mission last in the week. Following a careful examination of the mission’s objectives and the consequent public debate, Yaseen decided to call off the UAE visit.
“We will continue to explore alternative options to address skilled labor shortages in key sectors of our market,” Yaseen assured in his statement. This commitment implies that although the UAE mission is no longer on the table, the root cause of labor shortages in Alberta continues to be in the government’s focus.
The withdrawal of the UAE workforce recruitment mission illustrates the competing values that the Alberta government faces in moving to find solutions to the labor shortfalls and providing support to local workforce. It also emphasizes the potency of public opinion exposure, and the impact of labor groups to government policy.
With future in mind, people’s eyes will stay on what the government will do next to resolve the labor crisis in Alberta. Will they focus more on upskilling local workers? Or will they explore other international recruitment options? Only time will tell.
It is, undoubtedly, clear that any future activities will likely come under hard analysis by labor organizations, opposition groups, and the masses. The mission controversy has established a model for how issues of this nature might be treated and may lead to either support or resistance for future labor market solutions.
For the moment, at least, the richer experiences of Alberta’s skilled labor force can take a breath and say that their government has finally taken the step of concentrating on local talent rather than on international recruitment. Nevertheless, the root causes of labor shortages and skills shortages continue, and some cannot help but wonder what new solutions the province might ‘as well consider next.
With this unfolding saga, Albertans from every sector will undoubtedly be watching their government’s approach to labor with bated breath, waiting to be heard and be able to influence the policies that will determine the direction of their own life as well as the economic future of the province.
