This was discussed at an Ops meeting previously. The advice received was if you have the exact skills and qualifications available locally then you shouldn't be issuing work permits! Simply having an unemployed pilot in the local workforce wasn't a significant enough reason to not issue work permits or renew them. Type ratings, training and experience with the airline of employment also was apparently a factor. I wish you the best of luck, and sincerely feel terrible about what has happened to the Dragon community!