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Local News
Protest pushes Alberta workers home
1:35pm
EDMONTON/630 CHED
9/18/2009

Dozens of Alberta workers are being flown back from New Brunswick after being swarmed by protesters from the local workforce, who claim the westerners stole their jobs.

Tradespeople from Alberta-based Integral Energy Service Ltd. were flown to Saint John 10 days ago after being hired by SNC-Lavalin to help complete a liquefied natural gas plant, belonging to Irving Oil.

But, a growing group of protesters gathered outside Hotel Courtenay Bay where up to 100 Alberta workers were staying until being pulled from the project and transported to Moncton.

Andrew Dawson, Atlantic Canada representative for the Canadian Office of the Building and Construction Trades Department, calls the protests a cry for help. Dawson says he thinks the out-of-province workers were brought in to keep budget costs down.

SNC-Lavalin issued a statement, saying it was disappointed with the protests. (The Canadian Press/Calgary Sun/bp)