Dozens of independent Esso station operators say Imperial Oil is making millions off of their hard work and is not sharing any of it.

The oil giant sold 148 B.C. and Alberta stations to Japanese-owned and US managed, 7-Eleven, earlier this year for $900 million.

By law, the government must review the sale of any domestic assets to foreigners worth more than $600 million and if there is no net economic benefit to Canada, the government is supposed to step in.

The minister responsible recently approved the sale saying that 7-Eleven will maintain a significant level of employment in its Canadian operations and that the company will make capital investments in equipment and facility improvements.

7-Eleven is asking most Esso retailers to stay on board at its operations as managers and says 80 have already agreed and that it is also hiring existing Esso staff.

CTV Calgary Consumer Watch Specialist Lea Williams-Doherty says there is one group who says this deal definitely doesn't benefit them economically.

The Canadian Small Business Owners that operated the 148 stations in Alberta and B.C. that were sold to 7-Eleven say they have put years into building their businesses and that they were sold out from underneath them.

Ruth Hall spent 15 years running three different Esso stations for Imperial Oi and says her family's dedication is what made the businesses thrive and helped to fuel Imperial's sale of the stations to  7-Eleven.

Hall admits that the franchise agreement she had with Imperial Oil did allow the company to unilaterally sell the stations with just four months’ notice and that they were paid almost nothing.

She says just because it's legal doesn't mean it is right

“I'm thinking Imperial Oil, geez, we all helped you build this business and we were here, we sacrificed to help you make this bigger profit and yet you tell us thanks, see you later, that's it, there's nothing there,” said Hall.

Lea asked Imperial Oil about the hardship inflicted on its Esso retailers in this sale and in an email Imperial said …

"...we continue to fulfill our commitments to retailers in good faith....imperial provided a competitive retail operating model that reflected and rewarded the efforts and business results of independent retailers during the term of their contracts..."

The conversion to 7-Elevens should be complete by mid-October.

(With files from Lea Williams-Doherty)