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The B.C. Human Rights Tribunal has ruled in favour of seven people who claim they were fired from a resort in the Cariboo because they are Caucasian.

In her decision, tribunal chair Diana Juricevic awarded seven employees of the Spruce Hill Resort and Spa near 108 Mile Ranch more than $173,000, saying they were credible in their claim that owner Kin Wa Chan wanted to replace Caucasian employees with Chinese employees to save money.

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“Over a period of months, Mr. Chan repeatedly said that he wanted to replace Caucasian employees with ethnically Chinese employees to reduce labour costs,” Juricevic wrote in the Oct. 24 decision.

Postmedia reached out to Chan but has not received a response.

Juricevic wrote that Chan had described Chinese workers as better and cheaper than white workers, and that they do not need to be paid for holidays or overtime.

Chan bought the resort in 2015, and began major renovations the following year, according to the decision. During the repair work, staff was reduced.