Dear Editor,
With Minister Leitch鈥檚 speech last week to local businesses, there seems to be a major disconnect with the Harper Government and Jasper鈥檚 hospitality staffing issues. The Minister made it very clear that Prime Minister Harper wants Canadians to come first for Canadian jobs. Ok, fair enough, but the Feds don鈥檛 seem to understand that Canadians are not lining up to work in Jasper鈥檚 hotels and restaurants. It is clear that the Feds are not seeing the reality of the situation.
They are steadfast on sticking to the new rules of the TFW program which have negatively effected Jasper businesses.
There has to be some kind of solution to this as the two parties butt heads on the issue. What could be done to attract more Canadian workers to the hospitality industry in Jasper? Perhaps the Government could be lobbied to provide tax incentives to employees of the industry. Say, a 鈥淗ospitality Employee Tax Deduction鈥�; the Harper Government is all about providing tax relief so this would fit right into their mantra. Perhaps a subsidy could be provided to employers so they can aggressively attract and retain Canadian workers. That subsidy could be translated into providing higher wages. Currently, the living annual wage in Alberta is approximately $31,000.00 per year. If an employee is making less then this they are struggling to make ends meet and probably would be considered living in poverty.
That being said, possible solutions to attract Canadian workers would be a living wage, tax deductions, and subsidies. Affordable housing would also have to be part of the equation as people need, and want, a place of their own to call home.
Nothing against staff housing but the reality of that is it is usually just a temporary situation for most frontline hospitality workers. These are major hurdles to tackle, however, if they are tackled, the staffing issues would certainly improve without a doubt.
Now, one other thing to keep in mind is the upcoming Federal election in October. Whichever party comes out on top, whether it be the Conservatives, Liberals, or NDP, they will have to address Jasper鈥檚 situation expeditiously. This issue has been going on too long to be put on the back burner. It would not be fair to both employers and their current overstretched employees to do otherwise; some kind of viable solution is needed.
James Beckmann
Jasper, Alta.
