More than 100 Victoria Trees Cannabis employees have lost their jobs in the wake of the provinceB次元官网网址檚 crackdown on the unlicensed dispensary.

On Wednesday members of the Public Safety and Solicitor GeneralB次元官网网址檚 Community Safety UnitB次元官网网址檚 Community Safety Unit shut down the businessB次元官网网址檚 Alpha Street location and proceeded to close the store on Yates Street the next day. As a result, the company has suspended operations at the remainder of the Victoria locations.

B次元官网网址淔or a lot of people, itB次元官网网址檚 kind of very surreal. I donB次元官网网址檛 think itB次元官网网址檚 really sunk in,B次元官网网址� says Avery Podgorenko, a night supervisor at the Trees Cannabis location on Cook Street. B次元官网网址淎 lot of us knew this was a possibility but itB次元官网网址檚 now become very real.B次元官网网址�

Podgorenko said itB次元官网网址檚 still unclear how severances and other end of employment agreements will pan out but he said a member of the companyB次元官网网址檚 human resources team had already been working with some employees in preparation for a planned closure in September, which was intended to suspend business until the company had obtained its license.

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Podgorenko has a second job, but says a vast majority of Trees employees worked full-time positions.

B次元官网网址淭here are a lot of people that that is their full-time and only source of income,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 definitely stressful.B次元官网网址�

In a statement released Wednesday, CEO Alex Robb said a two-week notice of termination had been given to employees after the first closure. That changed Thursday when it became clear that the provinceB次元官网网址檚 Alpha Street shut down wasnB次元官网网址檛 just a warning.

B次元官网网址淥ur main concern right now is for our staff. At this time, we cannot put our team at risk of fines from the CSU,B次元官网网址� Robb stated Wednesday.

Podgorenko said the company has been transparent with staff about the need to search out other employment.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 difficult with the lack of timelines and solid information, but one thing that has been made abundantly clear is that staff are more than welcome to come back when licensing is actually issued,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淲e donB次元官网网址檛 know when thatB次元官网网址檚 going to happen, it could be two week, it could be two months, it could be 14 months and so Victoria obviously is not a cheap city to live in and I do appreciate that transparency of, B次元官网网址榶es, you should go look for other sources of income and other employment while we wait for the licensing.B次元官网网址橞次元官网网址�

nina.grossman@blackpress.ca
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