One of two permits to operate liquor stores in Prince Albert went to public auction today. (Susan McNeil/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Liquor store privitization

Prince Albert liquor permit up as SLGA starts sell off

Feb 6, 2023 | 4:17 PM

The permit for one of two provincially run liquor stores in Prince Albert is part of an initial lot of sales by SLGA.

The province announced last year they would no longer operate retail liquor stores and that the permits would be sold off.

Bids on the first lot started Monday and will end at 2 p.m. on Feb. 15 with McDougall Auctioneers selling all six lots of permits.

Each lot includes a permit for Regina and Saskatoon but the first lot is also selling one permit for Prince Albert along with the right to sell in Carlyle and Watrous.

A new lot starts every day with the last lot (including the second permit for Prince Albert) starting on Feb. 14 and ending on Feb. 24.

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Six lots of sales started today. (screenshot/SLGA)

Winning bids include the permit to sell liquor only and do not apply to retail locations or any stock from the previous stores.

Bidders must be pre-registered and pay a $5,000 deposit. They also must meet all other requirements by the SLGA to run a private liquor store, including being of good character.

Selling its stores is the end of the transition of retail liquor from being controlled by the provincial Crown corporation to being completely in private hands.

READ MORE: NDP leader visits P.A., hears from SLGA employees

Towards the end of the first day of bidding, the high bid for Prince Albert was $1,100, the bid for Watrous was about $15,000 and the bid for Saskatoon was $21,000.

Regina and Carlyle both were at $1,000.

All SLGA stores will be closed by the end of March.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com