Mac's store clerks murders leads to safety audits & maybe new laws
Alberta safety officers to inspect 200 convenience stores, gas bars
Officers can issue orders on the spot, says labour minister
The Alberta government says it will inspect hundreds of stand-alone convenience stores and gas bars over the next three months to ensure workers are safe.

Labour Minister Christina Gray says health and safety officers will talk to employers and workers about current legislation related to working alone, workplace violence, paycheque deductions and employing young workers. During their inspections of about 200 worksites across the province, safety officers will have the authority to write orders on the spot.

Gray says the results of those inspections, along with consultations with industry officials, will help determine the next steps in the review of occupational health and safety and employment-standards laws. The inspections come after two clerks working alone at different Mac's stores in Edmonton were shot dead during robberies on Dec. 18.

"Employers are responsible to take all precautions to ensure their workers are safe, treated fairly and go home to their families at the end of the day, no matter what industry they work in," Gray said in a news release Tuesday.

"The Western Convenience Stores Association continues to work with the Alberta government to ensure evidence-based safety measures proven to work in our unique retail environment are in place and accessible to all retailers," Klukas said in a news release Tuesday.  ohscanada.com

March is Fraud Prevention Month in Canada
Canadians concerned about protection of personal information: CPA Canada fraud survey
44 per cent of the respondents who have access to the Internet claiming they are uncomfortable making online purchases.
● Seventeen per cent say they had corresponded, either through social media or email, with someone who had misrepresented their true identity.
● Fourteen per cent stated that someone had gained access to one of their email accounts without permission.
● Eight per cent said the same thing about a social media account.

The survey participants are also worried about possible cyber-attacks. Roughly three in four respondents (73 per cent) are concerned that their personal information is at risk because they believe Canadian businesses are vulnerable to cyber-attacks. However, most respondents (66 per cent) think that Canadian businesses, in general, are doing the best they can to safeguard personal information.

Among victims of fraud, credit card fraud had the highest incidence rate (65 per cent) followed by debit card fraud (31 per cent). They were the top two forms of fraud cited in 2015 as well.

"The good news emerging from the survey findings is that Canadians are fighting back against fraud," adds Wilson. Actual or suspected frauds can be reported at antifraudcentre.ca or by calling toll free 1-888-495-8501. newswire.ca

March is Fraud Prevention Month
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre partners are launching their annual Fraud Prevention Month public awareness campaign. This year's OPP Fraud Prevention Month media campaign will focus on five topics including: Emergency/Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) scams; Romance Scam; Microsoft/Computer scams; Phishing/Bank Web Site scams and Lottery scams.  quintenews.com

"Fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes across Canada"
Calgarians lost as much as $75M to fraud in 2015
At least 4,972 Calgarians reported losing money to fraud last year. "Fraud Prevention Month is an opportunity to arm Albertans with the tools and knowledge they need to make informed decisions," Acting Service Alberta Minister Danielle Larviee said.  globalnews.ca

Canada's top 10 scams earned crooks $1.2B last year, says BBB
Fear of the taxman and offers of love are two of the top tricks used by scammers to separate unsuspecting victims from more than a billion dollars last year.

1. Extortion scam: CRA income tax scam. 2. Heartbreak scam: cat-phishing. 3. Prize scam: fake lottery winnings. 4. Financial scam: investment fraud. 5. Employment scam: secret shopper. Total loss: $3.9 million. 6. Subscription scam: free trial traps. 7. Imposter scam: spear-phishing. 8. Private sale scam: overpayment or refund. 9. Emergency scam: fake relative needs cash. 10. Lending scam: advance fee loans. cbc.ca

McKesson Expands Into Canada With $2.2B Rexall Health Drugstore Buy
Wednesday's deal, which will be funded via cash and debt, will add Rexall's 470 stores to McKesson Canada and give the combined company a 13,000-member workforce in Canada, according to a statement. law360.com

Kate Spade Continues Canadian Store Expansion - 2 new stores in GTA
Kate Spade will soon boast 10 full-priced Canadian stores as well as two outlets. retail-insider.com

Canada's Top 25 Most Productive Shopping Centres Based on Sales per square foot
1. Yorkdale Shopping Centre, Toronto, ON: $1,610
2. CF Pacific Centre, Vancouver, BC: $1599
3. Oakridge Centre, Vancouver, BC: $1,537
4. CF Toronto Eaton Centre, Toronto, ON: $1,509
5. Southgate Centre, Edmonton, AB: $1,215
6. CF Chinook Centre, Calgary, AB: $1,119
7. Royal Bank Plaza, Toronto, ON: $1,096
8. CF Rideau Centre, Ottawa, ON: $1,018
9. Metropolis at Metrotown, Burnaby, BC: $1,008
10. Square One Shopping Centre, Mississauga ON: $994
11. CF Sherway Gardens, Toronto, ON: $965
12. CF Market Mall, Calgary, AB: $961
13. CF Richmond Centre, Richmond, BC: $928
14. CF Fairview Mall, Toronto, ON: $913
15. CF Carrefour Laval, Laval QC: $888
16. CF Polo Park, Winnipeg, MB: $886
17. CF Masonville Place, London, ON: $855
18. Holt Renfrew Centre, Toronto, ON: $828
19. Mapleview Centre, Burlington ON: $823
20. Toronto Dominion Centre, Toronto, ON: $816
21. Peter Pond Mall, Ft. McMurray, AB: $804
22. Complex Les Ailes, Montreal QC: $790
23. Scarborough Town Centre, Toronto, ON: $790
24. Conestoga Mall, Waterloo, ON: $786
25. Halifax Shopping Centre, Halifax, NS: $783 retail-insider.com