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Unions challenged HD mining over Chinese workers hired for coal project.

from The Tyee

"The federal court has dismissed a union challenge of temporary foreign worker permits that were granted to HD Mining.

"Last year the coal mining company received permits to hire 201 Chinese workers for its Murray River coal project near Tumbler Ridge, BC

"Two local unions challenged that decision, bringing the labour market opinions — required by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada to show the company made sufficient efforts to hire Canadians before hiring temporary foreign workers — into question.

"Despite losing the case, both unions remain hopeful. …"

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Premier-elect dismisses significance of NDP's success in coastal ridings.

from The Tyee

"Emboldened on her first day as Premier-elect, Christy Clark deftly navigated around questions about oil tanker and pipeline safety at her first post-election press conference this afternoon.

"Clark told reporters in her downtown Vancouver office that the BC Liberals' 50-seat surprise victory last night — shutting out the NDP by 17 seats — demonstrates that voters have given her government a "clear mandate" in its fourth term, particularly on economic and resource development.

"'Now that we have a clear mandate from the people of British Columbia, we are going to get down to the business of governing immediately," Clark told reporters. "People were concerned about the economy, and the people of British Columbia made their voice heard.'

"Surveying an election result map, however, reveals a nearly unbroken orange belt descended upon the coast like a line of driftwood washed ashore, in a province otherwise mostly Liberal.Could this stark chart of the NDP's coastal backing — with only two exceptions on eastern Vancouver Island — say anything about the Official Opposition's anti-tanker stance and fears of an oil spill disaster if the Enbridge and Kinder Morgan pipelines go ahead? …"

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Thousands of security breaches have affected virtually every department.

from The Tyee

"As Canadians focused last week on the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing and the RCMP arrests of two men accused of plotting to attack Via Rail, the largest sustained series of privacy breaches in Canadian history was uncovered but attracted only limited attention.

"Canadians have faced high-profile data breaches in the past — Winners/HomeSense and the CIBC were both at the centre of serious breaches several years ago — but last week, the federal government revealed that it may represent the biggest risk to the privacy of millions of Canadians as some government departments have suffered breaches virtually every 48 hours.

"The revelations came as a result of questions from NDP MP Charlie Angus, who sought information on data, information or privacy breaches in all government departments from 2002 to 2012. The resulting documentation is stunning in its breadth. …"

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Dr Perry Kendall dismisses fears of contamination from Fukushima plant.

from The Tyee

"Would you eat fish from Japan? Nearly two years after a devastating earthquake and tsunami in Japan killed more than 15,000 people and damaged the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear plant, some people still believe dangerously contaminated fish could reach Canadians' dinner tables.

"The debate should be well over in the view of the person entrusted with overseeing public health in British Columbia: public health officer Dr. Perry Kendall. Time and again Kendall has tried to explain that there is, to quote the headline on one of his press releases, 'Nothing to fear from radiation in B.C.'

"Yet The Tyee has learned that Kendall became so concerned about calming the public fears that he considered unfounded that he urged the Department of Fisheries and Oceans to carry out a special round of testing as a 'vital communications initiative.' …"

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