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The parent company of Tim Hortons seized the restaurants of the head of an unsanctioned franchisee group after he allegedly leaked sensitive corporate news to the media.

The president of the Great White North Franchisee Association, which has served as a thorn in Restaurant Brand International’s side since its inception more than a year ago, denies the allegation he’s acted as an anonymous source and claims the company is yet again attempting to intimidate franchisees.

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David Hughes received a phone call Sunday afternoon, roughly four minutes before the company locked him out of his four Lethbridge, Alta., coffee shops, he said.

He rushed to the nearest location from his house.

“Unfortunately, by the time I got there, security people had locked the doors. We weren’t allowed in,” he said.

Between four and eight years remained on the franchisee agreements for each location, Hughes said.