HD Mining International Ltd.: Lee Loftus

Chinese Workers Dept: Permits have been granted under the federal Temporary Foreign Worker Program to 200 Chinese workers to conduct exploration work at HD Mining International Ltd.'s Murray River mine near Tumbler Ridge, according to Vancouver Sun. "Poppycock," said Lee Loftus, president of the B.C. Building Trades union. "We have skilled people that have operated underground equipment, we have open-pit mining people, we have all the types of mining that take place in the world available here. We may not know the brand name of the piece of equipment that they bring with them, but we certainly understand the process." Two labour unions want a federal court to overturn temporary work permits issued to Chinese workers at a coal mine in northern B.C., arguing that there are unemployed Canadians who could fill the jobs. The company has said it was not able to find workers in Canada with the specialized skills necessary. (www.immigrantscanada.com). As reported in the news.