The Manitoba General Employees Union has filed an application for a publication ban in the Phoenix Sinclair inquiry.
The union wants to prevent the media from identifying any social workers who had anything to do with Sinclair's file.
Garth Smorang, the lawyer representing the union, went after the media at the hearing Wednesday morning by saying: "social workers will become game for the bloody minded."
"The media isn't interested in the truth or accuracy, but primarily in the sensationalism in stories and the laying of blame," said Smorang.
"Phoenix was scared, who gives a damn about the social workers," said Kim Edwards, who helped raise the little girl.
Lawyers representing several media outlets, the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, and Phoenix's biological father, Steve Sinclair, will argue this week that there should be no publication ban.
"We are obviously opposed to it and we will give our reasons in due course," said Jeff Gindin, who is representing Edwards and Sinclair.
Phoenix Sinclair was killed in the basement of a home on the Fisher River First Nation in June of 2005. Her body was buried in a shallow grave near the local garbage dump.
Her mother Samantha Kematch and stepfather Karl Mckay were convicted of first-degree murder in the case. In 2006, the province ordered a public inquiry into the killing.
Sinclair spent most of her short life in the care of Child and Family Services.
Arguments for the publication ban are expected to take two days and the decision to be made next week.
Lawyers are also asking that the foster parents and any other staff who worked on the file be included in the ban.
The inquiry is set to begin September 5th.
-- with a report from CTV's Stacey Ashley
