Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation
Fact 1: The work being conducted is exploratory and the jobs are temporary.
The company applied for and received a bulk-sample permit in advance of undertaking environmental assessments and is sampling the proposed deposits for viability. This is work required in advance of moving forward with the project and requires individuals trained in underground mining. The jobs are temporary - for a six-to-eight-month period while the exploration takes place.
B.C.'s government is committed to making sure that if these mines are found to be viable, British Columbians will be able to do the jobs that will be created in northeastern B.C.
In fact, there are numerous British Columbians already working at this site and the government is working with the company to determine their training needs should the projects go ahead. The ministry is working with post-secondary institutions to develop and deliver training to support skills development in underground mining in the Northeast.
Myth 2: British Columbians are not being provided an opportunity for future underground mining jobs of this kind.
Fact 2: Prior to being granted permits to hire temporary foreign workers, a company must secure a labour market opinion. Managed by the federal government, the process requires employers to demonstrate efforts made to hire Canadians for the jobs, that the wages offered are consistent with similar jobs, that the working conditions meet current provincial labour market standards, and the economic benefit of hiring the temporary foreign workers, such as the transfer of skills and knowledge to Canadian workers or the development of a new industry.
In fact, Grande Cache Coal, one of only two underground coal mines operating in Canada, also uses temporary foreign workers.
Myth 3: The company rigged the process in order to hire temporary foreign workers and used Mandarin as a language requirement.
Fact 3: The company advertised these jobs in a manner consistent with the regulatory requirements set out in the federal immigration and refugee protection regulation (temporary foreign workers).
The company advertised for workers through its own and the BC Mining Association's websites, Canada's national job bank, local and provincial newspapers, job boards and fairs at a wage consistent with similar jobs at Grand Cache Coal in Alberta. </p><p>In issuing the labour market opinion, the federal government determined that no qualified workers were available.
Mandarin was not a required language for any of the jobs. The ad referenced in the media was not the ad that the company used in its search for employees prior to seeking temporary foreign workers.
Myth 4: The company rigged the process by not advertising the jobs at a fair wage.
Fact 4: In order for the company to be granted the right to hire temporary foreign workers, it must first advertise the jobs at a rate consistent with wages being offered to Canadians.
Myth 5: The company is hiring Chinese miners because they are cheap.
Fact 5: Hiring a temporary foreign worker is not cheap. Often it costs an employer more money. Interim health-care costs, transportation and assistance in finding accommodation are often required. HD Mining also has committed to providing, during working hours, English language training for their TFWs.
The workers hired for this were recruited due to a lack of individuals in Canada with the necessary long wall mine training. In fact, Grand Cache Coal, one of only two underground mines currently operating in Canada, also uses TFWs due to the shortage of skilled labour in this field and the lack of individuals willing to work in underground coal mines.
The company advertised these jobs at rates equal to or above similar jobs at Grand Cache Coal in Alberta.
Myth 6: The company is hiring 2,000 Chinese workers.
Fact 6: The company, HD Mining, submitted a request to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada for 201 temporary foreign workers.
Myth 7 - It should not take much to train these individuals.
Fact 7: British Columbia's Skills and Training Plan, released on Sept. 19, focuses on aligning B.C.'s training system with the jobs on the ground. Through initiatives such as the Northeast Regional Workforce Table, government is working with industry to identify their skills needs and then offering training programs consistent with those needs.
Although a number of public post-secondary institutions in B.C. offer mining-related training, no mines in Western Canada have previously employed "long wall mining". As such, no training is currently offered on equipment/techniques relevant to this particular type of mining.
Contact:
Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism, and Skills Training
250 356-8177
