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THREE EMPLOYEES of a

PAGES || PAGE 15

North Vancouver research

company under investigation by Employment and Immigra-
tion Canada have elected to voluntarily leave the country.

Employed by WTC Western
Technologies, the trio, all
American citizens, had been in-
formed by Immigration in’ late
May that they were working il-
legally in Canada.

In the June f News story that
chronicled the investigation, Im-
migration’s supervisor of  en-
forcement Allan Froese said the
employees’ work authorizations
had been improperly issued.

Senior immigration officer S.
Morris said Monday the three
WTC emplovees chose to feave the
country and return as visitors,
rather than appear before an im-
migrauion hearing scheduled for
June 20.

Morris said, as visitors, they
would not be permitted to work
while they were in Canada,

VISITOR STATUS

He declined to say how fong the
three. all residents of West) Van-
couser, weuld be in Canada as
SUsItOrs,

“Them decision to deave the
counties: Soluntanty concludes our
interest in the matter’ Morris
said.

WUC president Ron Miller orig:
inally saad the dispute over work-
ing authonzation between Im-
mipration and WE was a
“bureaucratic misunderstanding”
bersween the departinents of \flan-
power and Imimigeanon

Miller matrntained the
emplesees, whieh anelude the
COMPAS So envineer and is senioy
technigie, entered the countrys on
an inter Company franster from
WEG CS: branch ootttes am) Prose,
ldithe

He sald the company’s Idaho
branch was shut dewn shorts after
far thatist

WIC Sn moe fram its
Waost Monalle “treer ottices fo ats

ST onda t wh ountre at
bast street) North Van-

PAN CREDIT FUNDS

NEWS photo Terry Peters

Stiller sand Wednesday WTC
Mans te feappis to hase tie
emplosees remstated,

VOLUNTEERS hose down the North Van City Fire Chief's car in preparation for Saturday's car wash, to raise funds
aupe dhe work thes were dome

on behalf of burn victim Mike Pinette. In the foreground are (t. tor.) North Van ROMP Cpl. Don Jette and cily

firefighter Dan Hilton. In the background (1. to ¢.) is West Van firefighter Claire Dickson and city firefighter Gerry Quis farusdied*

Parkinsen. The car wash will be held from [1 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the city fire hall, rain or shine. * Though ihe emplosees were in
Wt. upper ecebelons, “filer saad

SHAW

rs Reporter

their loss will not adversely affect
the company.

“Our building is an innovation
centre. Uniess employees are work-
ing on a particular project, there
would be nothing for them to do.”

Incorporated in August, 1984,
WTC raised approximately $25
million through the now-defunct
Scientific Research Tax Credits
program,

Revenue Canada officials have
claimed in written evidence that an
audit found $10 million spent by
WTC under the program did not
qualify for credits.

But a federal court judge ruled
that Revenue Canada had no
authority to assess WTC before the
end of the company's tax year and
would have to wait until WTC fil-
ed its income tax oreturn in
September before claiming any
amount due.

WTC lawvers have described as
defamatory and damaging allega-
tions made about the company in
an April 40 News story) which
chronicled complaints of former
emplovees that the company was
not doing bona fide research.

The company’s North Van-
couser buildings has been set up as
a centre tor the incubation of
research ideds,

CENTRE NOT FULL

Approsimately one-third of the
building's 40.000 square feet of
Space is occupied by WTC. A fur-
ther fise per cent is oecupied by
Savor Haver’s neighhorhood pub.

Miller said he estimates it wall
take one vear before the innova-
tion centre as full. Vhus far one
electronics deselopment company
bas been selected to take up  resi-
dence in the building, ascordiy to
Midler.

In addition fo investiganen bs
Immigration, WEC has alse tad a
$42,000 analogue telephone switch
selved by Canada Customs. Phe
switching equipment was seized
because ue dug was pitid when tt
Was imperted trom othe United
Stites.

Miller said the swatch belonged
ro Hadlicratters byuipment of
Canada and had nothing to do
wink WOPC