By Lara Fominoff @LaraFominoff on Twitter

Foreign workers living/sleeping in Lethbridge Burger King basement, according to AHS

Jan 17, 2018 | 11:03 AM

LETHBRIDGE – UPDATE 3:00 P.M. –  Alberta Health Services has issued a statement suggesting that in fact there was evidence, as stated in the Executive Order issued Jan, 10, 2018, of foreign workers living/staying/sleeping in the basement of the establishment. As of today (Jan. 17) the order for the removal of furniture, mattresses and other items has been rescinded, however today was also the deadline AHS set for that to occur. The statement, in full, is below.  LNN has asked to speak with the Health Inspector who issued the order, and we have been told “the order speaks for itself.” 

“It is our duty to protect public health, and this includes ensuring restaurants and food establishments meet the requirements of the Public Health Act.

 AHS strives to work proactively and collaboratively with business owners to address issues, before escalating to Executive Orders or other enforcement measures.

 The Executive Order issued by Environmental Public Health to Burger King on January 10, 2018 addressed the unsanitary conditions of a back room, evidence of living/sleeping accommodations, and the inappropriate storage of equipment.

 Environmental Public Health Inspectors are empowered under the Public Health Act to order that any unsafe conditions be repaired or removed when necessary when such conditions may put public health at risk.

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 At this time, the work has been completed and the order has been rescinded as of this morning.”

UPDATE 2:10 P.M.  – LNN has received the following email from Burger King Media/Corporate Headquarters. We are waiting for comment from AHS. Here is Burger King’s statment in full:

“We have spoken to the Restaurant Owner, who independently owns and operates this location, and he has confirmed that the accusations regarding accommodations are not true. We have also been advised that the Alberta Health Services has rescinded their notice. However, we will continue to ensure compliance with our high operational standards.”
Thanks,
Burger King Media Relations”

Alberta Health Services had issued an ‘Order of an Executive Officer’ for the removal of all temporary foreign workers from the basement of the Burger King located at #2502 -1950 3 Ave S.

According to the Order, issued Jan. 10, 2018, an AHS Health inspector, found, quote:

“Evidence of sleeping and/or living accommodations for foreign workers found in another (basement) room. This is in violation of section 17(1) of the Food Regulation , AR 31/2006 which states that: An operator must ensure that, before operation of the commercial food establishment commences, has all its food handling areas separated from living quarters and from other areas where activities are carried out that are incompatible with the safe and sanitary handling of food.”

The inspector at the time, indicated that all “mattresses and associated furnishing” be removed as of Jan. 17, 2018, and that the restaurant no longer allow people to stay/live/sleep in the restaurant premises.

The order also indicated that flooding from a broken pipe had occurred in another area of the basement some time previously, that was supposed to be cleaned up and fixed, and gave Feb. 10 as the deadline for that to occur.

LNN went to the Burger King named in the executive order to speak with a manager, who at first told us “no comment.”

He then told us that there had been a miscommunication between a manager and AHS and no one had ever lived or slept on the premises.

“Nope. Never ever. Just the inspector, because of the language barrier, between my manager and him…so when she talked to him, and then see the incident or what happened. Got it? So, it was just a misunderstanding.”

LNN also called Sadiq Holdings Inc. and spoke with a man named Ken who we were told was the Operations Manager. He offered no comment, and referred us to Burger King Corporate Headquarters in Toronto.

LNN has contacted AHS for comment, and Burger King’s Corporate Headquarters as well.

At this point there is no indication of how many people may have been living or sleeping in the basement of the restaurant, or for the length of time they may have been there.

We will update the story as more information becomes available.

Here is a link to the copy of the Executive Order.