Released on November 4, 2014
Five Options on the Table, Public Comment Encouraged Via New Website
The Government of Saskatchewan today took the first steps toward redefining Saskatchewan’s liquor retailing system by releasing an options paper, and inviting public input.
“There are a lot of opinions about how we should sell liquor,” Minister responsible for the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Don McMorris said. “This consultation process will let us hear directly from the public and key stakeholders about what they would like to see when it comes to liquor retailing in Saskatchewan.”
The consultation process includes a comprehensive options paper. It provides a history about the province’s liquor retail system and takes a look at how some neighbouring jurisdictions operate. The document also outlines five different options for people to consider:
- Maintaining the current system;
- An expanded private retail system;
- Alberta-style fully private retail system;
- Managed transition to fully private system; and
- An expanded government retail system
“These are the five broad models we would like the public to consider, recognizing that there are a lot of different delivery options within each model,” McMorris said.
The consultation website at www.saskatchewan.ca/liquorretail gives people the opportunity to read the options paper, complete a brief survey and provide comments. Key stakeholders will also be invited to submit written comments, which will be posted on the consultation website.
“We know we’re going to need some more new stores to help meet future demand and we also know we have some existing stores that will need investments in the future,” McMorris said. “Before we decide how to proceed, we want to hear what customers, stakeholders and the general public have to say.”
The province’s liquor retail system currently consists of 75 government liquor stores, approximately 190 franchises operating in private businesses in rural Saskatchewan, 450 off-sale outlets and three private full-line liquor stores. A fourth private full-line store is set to open in Regina next spring.
The consultation process runs until January 30, 2015.
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For more information, contact:
Lisa Danyluk
Executive Council
Regina
Phone: 306-787-9619
Cell: 306-531-4383