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“Quite frankly, we wouldn’t be pursuing this, and wouldn’t have been pursuing this since 2012, if we didn’t feel it were absolutely essential from a safety perspective,” Seetal said.

Had the application for the injunction been rejected, Suncor could have begun random testing right away.

Ken Smith, president of Unifor Local 707A, said the union doesn’t think Suncor has shown random tests would improve safety, and that such tests would be “invasive and degrading.” He said safety is a priority for the union, and that there are already a number of effective controls at the oilsands site.

In a written decision filed with the court Thursday, Court of Queen’s Bench Justice Paul Belzil said beginning the testing now would create a “chaotic situation” if Unifor is ultimately successful in court and Suncor is subsequently prohibited from continuing the program.

“Safety concerns, while relevant, are not sufficient to tip the balance of convenience in favour of Suncor,” Belzil wrote, noting there is “conflicting” expert evidence about the effectiveness of random testing deterring workplace drug and alcohol use.

Suncor first introduced a testing program in 2003, which includes “post-incident testing.”

In 2012, the company announced a plan to introduce random testing for safety sensitive positions.

Unifor fought the implementation of the new policy, and the matter has been tied up in the courts since.

In September, the Alberta Court of Appeal upheld an earlier ruling dismissing an arbitration panel’s finding that the random testing should be quashed, and ordered the issue heard by a new panel.

The union has filed leave to appeal this decision to the Supreme Court of Canada. A decision on leave is expected in February.

pparsons@postmedia.com

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