It’s been three months since the incident that left a female employee dead as she tried to prevent a motorist from stealing gas at a Calgary gas station. Public outrage ensued, the motorist was charged, and Albertans now wait to see if the government will implement “Maryam’s Law” — a safety regulation that would introduce pay-before-you-pump regulations across the province.
A petition has been activated and as Albertans wait (and debate) about the merits of the suggested Maryam’s Law, know that other Canadian provinces have already enacted safety regulations of this sort in an effort to increase safety for gas station/retail workers.
But what are those regulations, where are they implemented, and what has been the outcome of the regulation? See the list below:
Grant’s Law – British Columbia
Safety Regulation Details: Safety regulation implemented as a law to protect overnight staff working at gas stations and retail stores from thieves and violence.
Date Enacted: 2008
Original Incident: Grant De Patie, a Maple Ridge gas station attendant was killed trying to prevent a robbery (motorist stealing gas) in 2005.
Details Link: CBC
Details Link: WorkSafeBC
Law Amendment: The BC government then amended Grant’s Law in April 2012, bowing to pressure from businesses to remove certain safety requirements from Grant’s Law. This amendment remains a controversial issue in BC between workers and business owners.
Details Link: WorkSafeBC
Details Link: CTV News
Jayesh’s Law / Colle’s Bill – Ontario
Safety Regulation Details: Bill introduced by Liberal Mike Colle to provide safety measures for gas station employees; the bill is in response to an incident where a Toronto gas station attendant was killed as he tried to stop a motorist from stealing gas.
Date Enacted: Not enacted by government.
Original Incident: Jayesh Prajapati, a male gas station attendant was struck and dragged by a vehicle after failing to pay for gasoline.
Bill Details Link: Ontario Government
Jimmy’s Law Act – Saskatchewan
Safety Regulation Details: This law is an amendment to Saskatchewan’s Occupational Health and Safety Act to enhance working-alone procedures for workers at gas stations, convenience stores, or other retail stores that are open at night. The regulation was implemented in response to the 2011 death of gas station attendant Jimmy Ray Wiebe, murdered while working alone at night in Yorkville.
Date Enacted: January 2013
Bill Details Link: Government of Saskatchewan
Why Do Gas Station Attendants Confront the Motorists?
Apparently, gas station management may require staff to reimburse them for the cost of gasoline stolen. With many gas station attendants earning minimum wage it is suggested that staffers are therefore incentivized to prevent gasoline from being stolen on their watch. This situation has prompted investigations in an effort to thwart this practice.
Details Link: Calgary Herald
Details Link: The Globe and Mail
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