— An Indigenous father and daughter in British Columbia are accusing Canadian Tire and its third party security company of racial profiling and racism after they say he was singled out at a store in Coquitlam and an employee responded with a racist comment.
The complaint alleges that on January 17, 2020, the pair purchased new tires for installation and shopped in-store while they waited. Wilson, a member of the Heiltsuk Nation, says when she raised what happened with one of the store's mechanics, he told her how his dad taught him the "difference between a 'Indian' and a Native" was that "'an Indian comes from the reserve and begs and steals and demands money, and Natives do not."
Wilson says she wants Canadian Tire to apologize, improve training and provide financial compensation including money that would directly support urban members of the Heiltsuk Nation.Elected chief Marilyn Slett says in a statement that Canadian Tire has been unwilling to meaningfully engage in resolution efforts ever since.