Two weeks ago, Josef Jornadal was chasing a dream.

Busily working as a housekeeper, the native Filipino had secured a landed immigrant nomination from his employer and simply had to work for eight more months before he could begin the long process to become a Canadian citizen - and reunite with his family. The temporary foreign worker was doing well at work, and had his family was excited about their eventual move.

“I like Jasper. I want to retire here someday with my family,” the 37-year-old Fillipino said. He’s been working in Jasper for a year-and-a-half, dreaming of bringing his wife and two children to Canada. He’s been sending a portion of his pay cheque home to support his family there, and has made friends in town.

“They keep asking when they’ll be able to come,” Jornadal said.

However, Jornadal was terminated from his job on May 22 without warning or explanation. When he tried to plead his case, his boss told him Canada ‘wasn’t his country’ and he was asked to sign a form to put him on a plane back to The Phillipines on June 3. He was told if he did not sign the letter, he would loose his last pay cheque, his vacation pay and his uniform deposit. Jornadal said he was told the RCMP would come and make him sign the paper. He signed, but said it was under duress.

Jornadal was devastated by the dismissal, 

“My dream is gone. My family will be worried. They don’t know what’s going on.”

He was later told a complaint was lodged against him by two other workers in Banff, who alleged that he taught them to do their jobs improperly. Their boss allegedly called his boss to complain, and Jornadal was fired. Jornadal said he did work with the women, but did not train them and did not tell them to clean rooms in a poor fashion.

“I am not a trainer,” he said. 

Jornadal is not new to housekeeping. He worked as a housekeeping manager in The Phillipines and worked for five years on a cruise ship based out of Italy. His evaluations were strong and he had no previous complaints on his file. He had even earned employee of the month honours the previous February. He had no warnings on his file, he said and said he’s feeling discriminated against.

“I want to know why I was terminated with no reason,” Jornadal said. “Why would they nominate me, then fire me?”

Complicating his problem is the fact his passport has been sent to Vancouver for renewal. Even if he did agree to board the plane, he could not re-enter The Phillipines because he is missing his passport. He is also living in staff accommodation, and is worried he will be without a home shortly. He is now trying to find a job.

However, according to Jennifer Raimundo, spokeswoman with Alberta Employment and Immigration, temporary foreign workers are allowed to stay in the country as long as their permit is valid, and they may apply for other jobs through approved employers. 

Foreign workers advisory in Edmonton told Jornadal he doesn’t have to leave the country and that he can take his complaint to the employment standards committee.

Ruby Tio-Tio has been living in Jasper for 18 years and is attempting to help Jornadal. She said she continues to hear similar stories of Filipino workers fired without reason and told to go home. She believes Jasper employers need to issue warnings before they fire employees and she thinks employers should take into consideration what the firing entails.

“I always hear this complaint and I don’t want this to happen. It really hurts us. There’s no consideration at all. We legally come here to work,” Tio-Tio said.

Tio-Tio said many employers don’t realize the sacrifice Filipinos undergo to work in Canada. Many must sell their homes just to afford a plane ticket, and several leave their family. 

“We respect this country and its laws,” Tio-Tio said. “This really hurts us so much. It’s not easy to come here.”

Tio-Tio said she’s heard the story frequently and wants employers to implement a system

“I don’t want this to happen to other people,” Tio-Tio said. 

For now, Jornadal sits at home, waiting to see his fate unfold. He’s still unsure if he’ll board the plane home and give up on his dream, or fight to keep working in Jasper.

“All of the sudden, just like that, it’s ruined.”