CTV News Calgary has reported:

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce is warning that changes to Alberta’s immigration policies could make it harder for businesses to find workers as the province approaches a period of major economic growth. In a report released Thursday, the chamber set out recommendations to attract and retain workers amid labour shortages, an aging workforce and an acute skills gap. It says immigration should be part of a wider workforce strategy that also supports training, skill development and participation in the labour force.

“Immigration is one part of a broader workforce strategy that also includes training, skill development and workforce participation,” Calgary Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Deborah Yedlin said in a news release. “Alberta’s long-term success depends on policies that allow us to draw on all of these sources of talent.” The chamber says 65 per cent of businesses are already having difficulty finding workers.

A recent survey of Calgary Chamber members by Abacus Data found that 51 per cent said immigrant employees were important to their operations. The share was 71 per cent among businesses with more than 50 employees. The findings come as businesses consider proposed changes to Alberta’s immigration system, including changes to provincial control and eligibility for provincially funded programs.

Forty-seven per cent of respondents said recent or proposed immigration policy changes would negatively affect their business, while 11 per cent expected a positive impact. More than half, or 52 per cent, opposed increasing provincial control over immigration. Another 51 per cent said Alberta should not limit eligibility for provincially funded programs.

The chamber also cited concern about proposed fees that could raise the cost of hiring immigrant workers. It said the effects could be especially significant in construction, agriculture and manufacturing, sectors where labour shortages are already a challenge. The report argues that businesses need reliable routes to bring in and retain workers as investment increases.

“Businesses have repeatedly cited the availability of labour as a growth constraint, and now, more than ever, Alberta businesses need stable, reliable and competitive paths for labour attraction and retention,” Yedlin said. The chamber says immigration will account for most of Alberta’s population growth over coming decades, making it an important source of workers as well as residents.

Provincial data cited by the chamber project Alberta’s population will grow by 1.9 million people between 2025 and 2051. Migration is expected to account for 81 per cent of that increase, the chamber said. It estimates that 62 per cent of population growth will come through international migration and 19 per cent through people moving to Alberta from other provinces.

The report also describes immigrants’ contribution to the provincial economy and public finances. Research prepared for the chamber by economist Trevor Tombe estimates immigrants paid more than $4.1 billion in Alberta personal income taxes in 2026. Immigrants under 40 contributed about $1.1 billion, with a net provincial fiscal contribution of just under $1 billion after selected provincial programs were taken into account, according to the chamber.

The report says 40.6 per cent of immigrants have a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared with 25.1 per cent of Canadian-born people. The chamber recommends Alberta keep immigration pathways aligned with the province’s workforce needs and improve recognition of foreign credentials so qualified newcomers can return to their professions sooner. It also urges continued work to reduce barriers to interprovincial mobility and investment in domestic workforce training and employment programs.

“Alberta is on the cusp of a period of capital investment not seen in decades,” Yedlin said. “This will put increased pressure on our labour force to meet the needs of companies investing in these projects.” She said attracting workers from outside Alberta and Canada would be important to meeting that demand.

“People moving to Alberta bring with them skills and education - and with Canada committed to deploying capital and advancing big projects - immigration is the fastest way for us to bring in skills and compete on a global level,” Yedlin said.

Abacus Data conducted its online survey of 137 chamber members from June 8 to 22. All members received an email with a secure survey link, and multiple reminders went to those who had not completed it. Respondents were broadly representative of the membership by company size, and the results were not weighted.

Because the online survey was a convenience sample, no margin of error can be assigned to its results. The chamber said a random, representative sample of 137 members would have a margin of error of plus or minus 8.1 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.