The Hook: Political news, freshly caught
Unions win right to continue challenging mining company's use of foreign workers
Two British Columbia unions won the right Thursday to further their legal challenge to a mining company's plan to bring temporary workers from China for a project near Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Read more…
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Provinces and patients will pay if feds meet EU patent demands: Dix
With International Trade Minister Ed Fast in Belgium this week for trade talks with the European Union, British Columbia NDP Leader Adrian Dix is calling on the federal government to reject the EU's proposed changes to Canada's drug patent laws. Read more…
Steelworkers file complaint about safety standards for temporary mine workers
The United Steelworkers Union has filed a complaint with the provincial mines ministry over the safety conditions facing temporary foreign workers at a northern B.C. coal mine. Read more…
BC taxpayers paying for television exposure
The British Columbia government's ministry of jobs, tourism and skills training is spending an estimated $50,000 to help television networks produce "positive media stories" in the province. Read more…
MLA Simpson blasts politicians for seeking photo-op glory with business owners
It's one thing to hear that politicians shouldn't be hogging the spotlight when businesses create new jobs. But Bob Simpson, independent MLA for Cariboo North in British Columbia, is saying just that on his website. Read more…
Guest list for Christy Clark's China schmooze included Nexen's would-be buyer
Among the 90 people on the guest list for a Sept. 11 reception co-hosted by B.C. Premier Christy Clark during the World Economic Forum in China were senior executives from Samsung, Qualcomm, Rio Tinto, Great United Petroleum Holding Co. and even a Dutch Prince, Prince de Bourbon Parme. Three people represented CN and two were from the Canadian division of Huawei, the Chinese telecom networking giant later identified as a national security threat in both the U.S. and Canada. Read more…
Mining company questions human resource minister's statements in foreign worker case
Canada's Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development Diane Finley may be cross examined as part of a court case in which two British Columbia unions are trying to get an injunction that would stop a mining project near Tumbler Ridge, B.C. Read more…
Dubious ferry figures used for BC government consult, says union president
The British Columbia government's public consultation on coastal ferry service is based on inaccurate data that will lead to uninformed decision making, said Chris Abbott, the president of the B.C. Ferry and Marine Workers' Union. Read more…
BC creates Jumbo resort municipality despite strong opposition
British Columbia's cabinet has approved the incorporation of a mountain resort municipality in the Jumbo Valley in the East Kootenays, despite much opposition from local First Nations and other residents. Read more…
Bulk buying and competitive bids would lower generic drug costs, says researcher
The commitment Canada's premiers made to begin bulk buying some prescription drugs could save taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, but more can be done to cut costs, an article in the Canadian Medical Association Journal argues. Read more…
Judge rebuffs feds, urges deal with unions on temp worker dispute
What was supposed to be a conference to determine if two British Columbia unions have standing to seek an injunction against a mining company turned into a request by a judge to have the two sides see if they can come to an agreement to avoid further court proceedings on Friday. Read more…
Chinese companies more likely to bribe to get business done: corruption watchdog
Transparency International, a global corruption watchdog, says Chinese companies are more likely to bribe to get business done abroad than almost any other nation in the world. Read more…
CTV British Columbia fires general manager, news director
There have been two high-level firings at CTV British Columbia. Read more…
Ottawa courts private-sector funding for new approach to social policy
OTTAWA - The federal government wants to tap into a "gold mine" of private-sector funding to finance its social programs. Read more…
Lobbyists registry lacks record for BC Liberal Party vice president
The Nov. 7 Globe and Mail quotes the vice-president of the British Columbia Liberal Party, former MLA Bill Belsey, saying he is a lobbyist registered with the province, but that claim appears to be untrue. Read more…
US envoy tempers Tory optimism on Keystone XL as Obama win stokes hope
OTTAWA -- The Harper government shouldn't be getting its hopes up that Barack Obama's re-election will mean speedy approval of the controversial Keystone XL pipeline, says the U.S. ambassador to Canada. Read more…
Kinder Morgan launches BC consultations on controversial pipeline expansion
Energy giant Kinder Morgan is holding public consultations across the Lower Mainland over the next several weeks, bringing its proposed TransMountain pipeline expansion under public scrutiny. Read more…
BCGEU ratifies agreement, calls government deceitful
Members of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union voted 64 percent in favour of ratifying an agreement with the provincial government. Read more…
Two unions seek federal court muscle to oust foreign workers from BC mine
VANCOUVER - Two labour unions are asking a federal court to overturn temporary work permits issued to Chinese workers at a coal mine in northern British Columbia, arguing that there are unemployed Canadians who could fill the jobs. Read more…
Prime minister pushes trade, investment deals with preoccupied India
NEW DELHI - Prime Minister Stephen Harper came to the Indian capital on Monday with the message that Canada is prepared to talk serious business, but his hosts don't appear to be as ready to sign off on freer trade yet. Read more…
