Federal Court turns down union bid for foreign worker injunction for miners

VANCOUVER – A federal court judge has dismissed a bid by two unions for an injunction preventing more temporary foreign workers from entering Canada for jobs at a British Columbia coal mine.

HD Mining is expecting 60 Chinese workers to come to Canada this weekend, joining 17 foreign workers already at the northern B.C. mine site.

The International Union of Operating Engineers and the Construction and Specialized Workers Union wanted the injunction in place until their broader legal challenge against the mining company’s foreign worker permits can be heard.

HD Mining is asking the Federal Court of Appeal to throw out the case entirely and is also appealing a decision that granted the unions standing to challenge the worker permits.

The firm’s Murray River project near Tumbler Ridge, B.C., 140 kilometres west of Grande Prairie, Alta., has drawn criticism for bringing in the workers from China instead of hiring Canadians.

Because of the controversy over the foreign workers permits, the federal government has said it will review the permitting process.