Fact Checking Premier Christy Clark and Minister Pat Bell
on Temporary Foreign Workers in B.C. Mines

On Oct 16, 2012 – Premier Christy Clark says the 200 Chinese miners are just doing exploratory work, and she's pushing for British Columbians to get any future jobs with the company.  

"We are advertising hard to try and get out there and find BC workers and train up bc workers for those jobs should they come, so this is an initial exploratory investment, but if that mine ends up getting started, we want BC workers in there and that's why we're advertising for them."

Source: CKNW 980 AM http://www.cknw.com/news/vancouver/story.aspx?ID=1792064

But on Oct 10, 2012 – B.C. Jobs Minister Pat Bell says:

“It’s very, very difficult to find people who want to take this type of work on.”

“The company did thorough research trying to find individuals and they came up empty handed.”

“It’s a very difficult trade.  Not one, Bill, that I think you want to hop on, nor do I.”

Source: Bill Good Show, CKNW 980 AM 

And on March 31, 2011 – Bell was quoted in the Prince George Free Press, claiming that "domestic mines don't have the expertise" to run underground mines. 

5 questions for Premier Christy Clark and Minister Pat Bell 

1)   If the Chinese temporary foreign workers are only doing “exploratory work” and will be replaced by B.C. workers, then why did the companies apply for anywhere from 1600 to 2000 temporary foreign workers, as reported by the Vancouver Sun on October 10, 2012

2)   And if the work of temporary foreign workers is just exploratory, how does the BC Government explain the planned large housing bunkers to accommodate the workers?

3)   Where is the BC Government “advertising for them”? “Them” being BC workers.  And will it be the same advertisements that required knowledge of Mandarin as a job requirement?

4)   Why are the companies involved and Minister Pat Bell claiming that Canadians don’t have the skills or experience necessary to work in these mines when the Premier claims she’s going to get “BC workers in there”?

5)   How do British Columbians and Canadians access the training for the mining jobs that the Premier has promised? Where do they go to apply?