Judge orders release of documents approving work permits for Chinese miners

VANCOUVER—In a sweeping victory for two B.C. unions, a federal court ruled late Friday that the federal government and a mining company must release documentation on how it approved Canadian work permits for Chinese miners.

The unions had argued they need the documents to understand why Ottawa granted temporary permits to up to 201 Chinese miners to work at the Murray River coal mine in northern B.C.

The unions — Local 1611 of the Construction and Specialized Workers Union and Local 115 of the International Union of Operating Engineers — said those temporary placements were jobs that Canadian workers could fill.

Ottawa and HD Mining International argued against releasing those documents, citing reasons of competition and confidentiality.

http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/1299444--judge-orders-release-of-documents-approving-work-permits-for-chinese-miners