Sinopec seeks appeal in oilsands death case

A Chinese state-owned corporation wants the Supreme Court of Canada to overturn a ruling that would force it to stand trial in the deaths of two oilsands workers.

Sinopec Shanghai Engineering Company is seeking leave to appeal a Nov. 23 Alberta Court of Appeal judgment that orders the company to stand trial on 53 safety charges.

In its appeal application, Sinopec Shanghai, which brought the workers to Alberta, argues it has no official presence in Canada.

It also says it was never properly served with legal documents in the case.

Canadian Natural Resources and SSEC Canada, a Sinopec subsidiary with just one employee, are to stand trial on the charges in October.