Alberta Justice to review work alone policy following deadly shootings

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After two Mac’s convenience store clerks were shot to death at two different stores early Friday morning, Alberta Justice said that it will review the province’s work alone legislation.

In a statement Friday, Justice Minister Kathleen Ganley said that they will review the legislation, and that they welcome input.

“These incidents are both tragic and disturbing. Our thoughts are with the families and friends of the victims.  Our government believes every worker should come home safe at the end of the day, regardless of when they work or what work they do.  We will be reviewing the rules that govern employees working alone and would welcome input from stakeholders. We want to ensure safety is top of mind in all Alberta workplaces,” Ganley said in a news release.

The owner of Martin Food Store, Kashyap Pandit, told CTV News that on Thursday night, he also had a terrifying experience at his own store.

At 8:15 p.m., Pandit stepped out to get gas when he says two masked and armed men stepped inside the store where his wife was working alone.

“They came, one guy showed the gun from [the] side of the counter and the other guy went behind the counter with [a] knife and told my wife to stay away,” Pandit said.

The alleged thieves escaped with money, lottery tickets, and cigarettes.

Pandit said that his wife was not physically harmed, but is still shaken from the incident.

The Edmonton Police Service does not believe that the incident at the Martin Food Store is related to the two fatal shootings seven hours later.

Pandit said that he is glad that his story had a different ending than the other two store clerks, but said that some measures need to be taken to improve the safety of convenience store workers.

The Alberta Federation of Labour is calling on the provincial government to implement legislature similar to that in B.C. where for overnight shifts at least two employees must be present, or if working alone, must work behind a protective barrier.

With files from David Grummett