Unions take enforcement of Temporary Foreign Worker rules to court

Claiming Chinese-owned coal companies are
intimidating federal and provincial governments

VANCOUVER – Two unions that have taken enforcement of Temporary Foreign Worker rules to court say Chinese-owned coal companies are inappropriately attempting to intimidate the federal and provincial governments by winding down one proposed mine and criticizing a federal cabinet minister.
Canadian Dehua International Mines Group said Saturday that it will wind down work at its Wapiti River coal project near Tumbler Ridge effective midnight Sunday because of what it says is a “deluge” of concern from its investors over legal action taken by the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 115 and the Construction and Specialised Workers Union Local 1611 to ensure Temporary Foreign Worker rules are respected.
HD Mining, the company granting permits to bring 201 Chinese miners to its Murray River coal mine, has criticised federal Human Resources Minister Diane Finley for saying the government was “not satisfied” with the process followed.
HD Mining claims it will appeal a ruling won by the unions Friday in Federal Court to pursue an application to investigate that process.  Canadian Dehua is a minority shareholder in HD Mining.
“Attempting to intimidate the federal and provincial government from enforcing existing Temporary Foreign Workers rules and trying to intimidate unions that are pursuing their legal democratic rights in court by shutting down a mine project is completely inappropriate behaviour,” says IUOE Business Manager Brian Cochrane.
“If the Temporary Foreign Workers rules were properly followed to the letter of the law, as the companies claimed in court, neither HD Mining nor Canadian Dehua should be worried about the results of our court case or the investigation by the federal Human Resources Ministry,” Cochrane said.
“We are only seeking to ensure Canadian immigration laws and policies have been respected,” Cochrane added. “These companies have to play by the rules in Canada and their lack of transparency and intimidation efforts should be a serious concern,”.
CSWU Local 1611 Business Manager Mark Olsen says it is also wrong for HD Mining to publicly criticise Human Resources Minister Diane Finley for taking action to ensure the rules are properly enforced.
“For HD Mining to say it is ‘very concerned and disappointed’ with the Human Resources Minister when all she has done is express dissatisfaction with the Temporary Foreign Worker process speaks volumes about how these companies operate,” said Olsen.

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