Alberta Restores Health Coverage for Young International Workers, Giving Many in Banff and Canmore Access Again

Many of the people serving coffee in Banff, guiding tours in Lake Louise, working hotel front desks, or helping run restaurants and ski operations are here on a special temporary work permit program called International Experience Canada (IEC), designed for young international workers.

In January, Alberta quietly changed the rules in a way that blocked many of those workers from getting provincial health coverage. After weeks of confusion and pushback from local organizations and employers, the province has now reversed course.

As of Feb. 11, IEC permit holders, are once again eligible for Alberta Health Care coverage if they meet certain conditions, according to an update from the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership.

Who these workers are and why Bow Valley residents should care

The IEC is a federal program that allows young adults from partner countries to live and work in Canada temporarily.

In practical terms, IEC workers are often:

• Working holiday staff in Banff and Canmore hotels and restaurants

• Seasonal lift operators and guest services staff at ski resorts

• Tour guides and activity staff in the summer season

• Young professionals placed with local businesses

• Hospitality and retail workers filling peak tourism demand

Most are in Canada for one to two years. Many arrive specifically to work in mountain towns like Banff and Canmore because of the concentration of tourism jobs.

Without them, employers say, large parts of the visitor economy would struggle to operate at full capacity.

What changed and why it caused alarm

Alberta’s public health system is administered through the Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan, or AHCIP. It covers most medically necessary doctor and hospital services for eligible residents.

On Jan. 7, Alberta Health issued an internal directive to registry offices that changed how eligibility rules were being applied for certain temporary foreign workers.

Under that directive, registry offices began denying new Alberta Health coverage applications from IEC permit holders.

These permits are labeled internally as “Case Type 58” on federal immigration documents. That number is an administrative code used by registries to categorize permit types. It includes:

• Working Holiday permits

• Young Professionals permits

At the same time, some Co-op work permit holders, typically international students doing work placements, also encountered confusion. These are labeled “Case Type 59” permits. Many of them remain eligible, but through their study permits rather than their work permits, which requires extra documentation.

The January change was not widely announced publicly. Many workers only discovered it when they tried to apply for coverage or renew their cards and were refused at registry counters.

The local group that sounded the alarm

Much of the early warning and clarification came from the Bow Valley Immigration Partnership, known as BVIP.

BVIP is a regional collaboration that supports immigrant and foreign workers in the Bow Valley. It works with municipalities, settlement agencies, and community organizations to help newcomers and temporary workers navigate housing, employment systems, and government services.

After the January refusals began, BVIP and the Bow Valley Foreign Worker Support Office started collecting reports, contacting provincial offices, and pushing for clarification. They also issued plain-language guidance to workers and employers while the situation remained unclear.

The Feb. 11 reversal

According to BVIP, Alberta Health issued a new notice to registry offices on Feb. 10 that reverses the earlier decision.

Under the updated direction, IEC permit holders are again eligible for Alberta Health Care coverage if they have:

• A work permit valid for at least 12 months

• Proof of full-time employment

Coverage begins from the worker’s employment start date.

Workers who were denied under the January directive can now return to a registry office and reapply or renew.

BVIP welcomed the decision, saying restoring coverage helps stabilize both workers and the broader community.

Why timing mattered

The disruption came just as Bow Valley employers were ramping up recruitment for the spring and summer tourism season.

Local businesses often hire months ahead, and health coverage is a core part of onboarding and risk planning for staff. Uncertainty around eligibility created complications for:

• Hiring decisions

• Benefits coordination

• Insurance requirements

• Worker retention

IEC participants are required by federal rules to carry private health insurance when they enter Canada. But many also enroll in Alberta Health coverage when eligible, which reduces gaps and lowers risk for both workers and employers.

During the uncertainty period, local support agencies advised workers not to cancel private insurance unless their provincial coverage was confirmed in writing.

What workers should do now

Bow Valley support organizations say IEC permit holders who were refused coverage after Jan. 7 should now return to a registry office and apply again.

They should bring:

• Their work permit

• Proof it is valid for at least 12 months

• Proof of full-time employment

• Standard ID and Alberta address documents

Co-op permit holders should bring both their study and work permits, plus proof of full-time student status, since eligibility is usually tied to the study permit.

How policy hits mountain towns first

While the rule has now been reversed, local organizations say the episode shows how administrative decisions made at higher levels can quickly create real-world impacts in smaller, tourism dependent communities.

In places like Banff and Canmore, where international workers are part of daily life and essential to business operations, even technical eligibility changes can carry outsized consequences.

BVIP says it will continue monitoring registry guidance and sharing updates as needed, but for now, coverage eligibility for IEC workers has been restored.