A key labour leader in BC is pleased the federal government is reviewing a controversial program aimed at hiring foreigners to fill local jobs.

"We're slowly peeling the layers back on this and we're going to get there."

Steve Hunt is the Western Canada director of the  United Steelworkers Union, which has been critical of plans to hire Chinese miners to work at a new coal mine in tumbler ridge.

"We're guardedly optimistic I guess you'd say, but it's coming right from the Prime Minister's office, so in the federal government circles, that's pretty big stuff."
 
The federal government is investigating allegations H-D Mining refused to hire anyone who couldn't speak mandarin.