Temporary Entry/Labour Market Impact Assessment

- LMIA Application

PART TWO - Obtaining a Work Permit for Ava

Crowsnest Pass Casino (CPC), Alberta

Crowsnest Pass Casino wants to hire Cochrane and Ava (as the band I-O-U) for performances for 12 months at the new CPC concert facility. The casino made a very lucrative offer to them and the two are very interested in taking the 'gig'.

CPC is a new resort consisting of a casino and a hotel as well as dining and entertainment facilities. There are five dining outlets and 3 bars/lounges. The event facilities measure 7,000 square feet and include an event/conference centre, a concert hall, meeting rooms and a ballroom. They also have a business centre and a gift shop. It is expected that a great line-up of entertainment will pack in crowds who will play at the gambling tables, eat and drink at the restaurants and bars and stay at the hotel.

Management has no experience in hiring foreign nationals for its entertainment line-up and ask you for advice on what may be involved in getting permission to hire them for the shows and doing whatever applications might be necessary, given that Ava is not a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.They would like to start the performances in six to eight months if that is possible, but are prepared to wait a little longer if necessary. They can book up the facilities easily enough in the meantime; they would just like to make an announcement of the engagement before then.

They have offered the band $100,000 per performance, regardless of the size of the audience. They would like them to play every Friday and Saturday night for 52 weeks, although they know that the band will probably want to negotiate some of the dates off for personal time off, travel or some non-performing event, like talk shows, interviews, etc. The band will have to cover all of their equipment and crew costs (as well as hair, make-up, costume, additional personal security and entourage), but they can stay free at the casino hotel if they wish, or find accommodations off site.

The band, or either Cochrane or Ava, will not be allowed to perform in public for any other employer, promoter or self-arranged engagement during the term of the contract, unless given permission by the casino. The band will be allowed to continue to write or record and release new music on their own, individually or as the band. The band will have the usual obligations regarding promotion of the engagement, such as photos and press interviews. They will also be required to rehearse on site for a set amount of time each week before a performance, and the management would like to add a clause that requires them to hang around the entertainment facilities to mingle with the patrons and special invited guests, but that is negotiable.

The casino management would like to know the requirements, steps involved, the chances of success, and costs of getting permission for Ava to work in Canada. They are very optimist because they see foreign musical artists working in Canada all the time and assume the government does not stand in the way of what Canadians want, after all, Canada is an entertainment hub, playing host to a broad range of concerts, shows, sporting events, and more. However, they have heard that, behind the scenes, lays an often complex legal process for allowing performers and crew the right to work in Canada. They presume the government knows that the entry of foreign workers in entertainment can bring unique international talent to Canada and support cultural exchange. They want to emphasize the fact that the band is composed of a Canadian and an American and are a unique and irreplaceable talent.

Provide the casino management with an analysis of the case. Also, identify the documents that will be needed for the LMIA and complete them as part of your assignmen