The "Jimmy's Law" petition that originated in Yorkton has passed 4,000 signatures province-wide and gained the backing of some powerful lobby groups.
Yorkton's Aaron Nagy began the petition two months ago in memory of his friend Jimmy Ray Wiebe, who was murdered at his job at a local gas station on June 20. The petition calls for a law requiring additional protections for retail workers: either a prohibition on working alone or mandatory safety barriers between workers and the public.
The Jimmy's Law petition now has more than 2,000 signatures on paper and 2,000 online.
Last week, the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour, which expressed support in principle for the proposed legislation back in July, confirmed that it will officially back Jimmy's Law.
"We're going to do what we can to help," federation president Larry Hubich told Yorkton This Week.
Hubich said that the SFL is looking at making Jimmy's Law a highlight of the opening session of its annual Occupational Health & Safety Conference on September 11-13. The federation will lobby the provincial government on the issue in the coming months.
"I think people will now listen, because that's one of the biggest voices to have behind you when you're trying to make a change here in Saskatchewan," said Nagy.
The BC Federation of Labour, which was instrumental in creating similar legislation nicknamed "Grant's Law" in British Columbia, is also backing Nagy's petition. In a press release issued on August 18, the BC Federation cited Wiebe's death and the Saskatchewan petition as evidence that Grant's Law should remain in place in BC.
Here in Saskatchewan, the provincial government has so far remained neutral on Jimmy's Law. Minister of Justice Don Morgan told Nagy that he will consider meeting with the petition sponsor once all the facts are in: once the coroner's inquest into Wiebe's death is released and the trial of his accused murderer, Kyle Furness, is completed.
The opposition NDP has expressed support for Nagy's efforts, but has not made Jimmy's Law a part of its platform.
"They're going to take a look at it a little later, I would imagine," Nagy said.
In the meantime, Nagy continues to speak with the media and circulate his petition. He has recently been in contact with Doug De Patie, father of the deceased Grant De Patie and a driving force behind Grant's Law in BC. De Patie is advising Nagy on how to bring Jimmy's Law off of the petition page and into the law books.
Nagy feels like he is getting closer to his goal, but recognizes that the real decision-makers have yet to weigh in.
"Only time will tell, I guess."
