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FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — The federal government is investigating an allegation that several dozen Canadians working in Alberta’s oil patch were laid off this week and replaced with foreign workers.

A spokeswoman with Employment Minister Jason Kenney’s office said Thursday that he has asked for an urgent review.

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They literally walked past the replacements on the way out

The Alberta Federation of Labour said that 65 of its ironworkers were laid off on Tuesday. The workers’ paystubs say they were being paid by a company called Pacer Promec Joint Venture.

Federation president Gil McGowan said the employees were immediately dismissed from their jobs at Imperial Oil’s Kearl oil sands mine.

“They called the guys into an office, told them that they were gone, and they literally walked past the replacements on the way out,” McGowan said.

He alleged the foreign workers from Croatia are making about $18 an hour — half the wage of the Canadians.

A spokesman for Imperial Oil said its contractors make their own hiring decisions.