By Gerald Bauman

Change could be coming for Sask. liquor stores: Wall

May 27, 2014 | 5:02 PM

Saskatchewan liquor stores could be in for a further makeover.

Premier Brad Wall said Tuesday morning there is a chance now to develop a new platform for the next election.

“While we campaigned on a certain promise in the last election, we have a chance now to develop a new platform for the next election. With respect to liquor stores, we want to hear from Saskatchewan people about what that platform might include,” he said.

Wall said there is a move towards more privately owned stores. That already includes the recent change of government-run stores to private vendors and the announcement the government will no longer build liquor stores.

“You are going to hear a request on my part to our MLAs and maybe even discussion around the time of a cabinet realignment about our government getting input from Saskatchewan people about what the direction should be here. Should we have more liberalization? More private stores?” Wall said.

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The province has already added four “full-line” liquor stores in Regina and Saskatoon. The stores aim to offer a full range of alcohol products, much like the existing ones run by the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority, as well as related items like snacks and mixes. The decision to add stores stemmed from growing populations, which the province felt left some areas under served.

The Saskatchewan Government Employees' Union (SGEU), the union that represents current liquor store workers, called last year's announcement “reckless.” SGEU President Bob Bymoen said that allowing private operators into growing urban neighbourhoods will result in less revenue for the government.

“Right now the profit from these stores is over $200 million a year and that comes in as part of the general revenue back to the province,” he said.

“If you privatize the stores, assuming that they generate $200 million in profit, most corporate tax rates are around 10 per cent, so the best the province is going to get is… $20 million in profit out of that.”

Bymoen said that he was “flabbergasted ” by Wall's remarks. He said that the move to privatization will also result in lower paying jobs for employees.

“The only winner is the person who gets to own the liquor store, that's the only winner in all of this,” he said.

“Privatization of liquor stores isn't good for the province or the people of this province or the tax payers of this province.”

– With files from News Talk Radio's Kelly Malone

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