Manitoba hotel owner says Ottawa owes millions for his housing flood evacuees

GIMLI, Man. – A Manitoba hotel owner says he has been forced to close his hotel and put it up for sale because Ottawa owes him $3 million in unpaid bills.

Mike Bruneau, who owns Misty Lake Lodge in Gimli, says he’s owed the money for feeding and housing aboriginal people who were displaced by the 2011 flood.

He says he was paid a portion of the money in 2012, but is owed more, including cash to cover damage to the hotel and interest on the debt.

Bruneau says he was forced to close the lodge late last year and lay off 50 employees.

The Manitoba Association of Native Firefighters had been responsible for caring for evacuees but has since been replaced by the Red Cross.

Bruneau says Aboriginal Affairs wants to negotiate a settlement but he wants his bills paid in full.