Group of foreign workers allege verbal abuse, unfair treatment at Manitoba's Elkhorn Resort

A group of foreign workers has filed complaints with an organization that fights for the rights of migrant workers about a western Manitoba resort, alleging their employer has treated them unfairly. 

Migrante Manitoba says since the start of this year, it has received complaints from four different workers regarding Elkhorn Resort, just outside Riding Mountain National Park.

"We hear folks are being threatened to be sent back to their country of origin and sent back to the Philippines during the pandemic year, folks not being paid overtime wages," said Diwa Marcelino, an organizer with the organization. 

"People [are] talking about [how] they've received discrimination or they've been yelled at by their bosses," he said.

Three of the four workers who complained have spoken to CBC, including Michael Flores, who came to Canada through the Manitoba provincial nominee program. 

Flores says he was wrongfully fired because he stood up to his supervisor — Elkhorn's head chef. CBC spoke with five people, including Flores, who accuse the chef of being verbally abusive.

Flores says he's now speaking out because he believes the company has been mistreating Filipino foreign workers, and filed a complaint with a federal government agency on July 11.

Elkhorn Resort denies the allegations, saying it provides a fair workplace for staff. A spokesperson says this month, they received a compliance audit request from Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada. 

General manager Chris Phillips says he submitted the compliance audit with IRCC, and expects the results of that audit will come back clear. 

Flores, who is 34 years old and has a wife and three children in the Philippines, says he started working as a line cook for the resort in January 2020. 

"I came here for my family because I know there's a very good future for my kids."

He was promoted to assistant to the head chef during his first year of working there, he said.

"Everything was good. They allowed me to work there … and just kept on messaging me that 'you're a good worker, we're so happy to have you here now,'" he said. 

But he says everything changed after an exchange he had with the head chef, his direct supervisor, on Dec. 8, 2021.