Canadian Tire worker who threw out Indigenous man accused of theft no longer an employee
Customer calls move 'a step in the right direction,' but still unhappy with company's response
A Canadian Tire employee seen getting physical with an Indigenous customer refusing to leave a store in Regina is no longer with the company, a spokesperson says.
"The employee involved in the matter has not been working in the store since the time of the incident and he is no longer with Canadian Tire," said Joscelyn Dosanjh, the company's manager of corporate communications, in an emailed statement to CBC News Saturday.
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Dosanjh did not specify the circumstances around the employee's departure and whether the employee resigned or was fired.
Videotaped tussle
Kamao Cappo, an Indigenous elder, said he was shopping for a chainsaw when the employee accused him of stealing.
Cappo disagreed and refused to leave the store. He posted two videos to social media that show the exchange with the worker growing increasingly heated.
At one point, the employee is seen pushing Cappo up against a shelf. He then pushed him toward the exit, with Cappo sliding on his feet.
"We have attempted to reach Mr. Cappo again this morning to express our sincere apologies. We wish to again state that we have taken this matter very seriously," Dosanjh's statement read.
'Step in the right direction'
Cappo said the fact the employee is no longer at the store is a "step in the right direction."
"If they had left him there, that would send out the message that, hey, they support [these] acts of violence against Indigenous people."
"To get him out of there so he doesn't harm any more people is the best thing."
Legal action
Cappo has filed an assault complaint, has spoken with a lawyer and is now considering legal action given the company's response to the incident.
He said a store owner left a message for him on Saturday. Cappo also posted a previous conversation with another company representative on his Facebook page.
Cappo said he feels insulted by what he considers disingenuous apologies and delayed responses from Canadian Tire.
"If I was running a business and my employee did this, I would be completely flabbergasted. I would have acted immediately — any sane business person would have acted immediately, but they haven't done that."