聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 In the New Year, Saskatchewan will be implementing a new path in liquor retailing as Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority Minister Don McMorris declared at a news conference in Regina on Wednesday, Nov. 18. This change will affect two stores in the immediate area, which includes Stoughton and Kipling.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Although the plan is mostly in place, changes will not take root until after the provincial election, which is scheduled for April 4. Following the election the government will make any amendments to legislation or regulations associated with the changes. The changes will then be seen in the late spring or early summer.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Within the new model the government will be converting a total of 40 government owned liquor stores into private liquor stores, while also adding 12 new private liquor stores to 鈥渦nderserved communities.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Of the 40 government liquor stores being privatized Stoughton鈥檚 and Kipling鈥檚 included, while the remaining 38 stores affected by the change are scattered across the province.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 In addition to this change, the government will be creating a more competitive market by creating equal opportunity for all conducting the sale of alcohol. In the future all retailers 鈥� including SLGA stores, franchises, off-sales, and private stores which currently all have different rules and restrictions on sales鈥� will be able to operate between 9:30 a.m. and 3 a.m., sell any type of chilled product, adjust their business model to meet customer needs, operate under the same terms as all other alcohol retailers, be given a uniform wholesale price, and be able to create flexible retail pricing strategies.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淪askatchewan consumers will enjoy more choice, more convenience, and more competitive pricing,鈥� McMorris explained. 鈥淭his new direction allows government to collect the same amount of revenue through a new wholesale markup while also correcting many inequities that have existed among the province鈥檚 various liquor retailers.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The process of change began in November of 2014 when the government initiated a consultation which resulted in an Options Paper which included five different plans based on the existing liquor retail model as well as on other province鈥檚 systems. A total of 6,600 people completed the survey as well as over 3,000 people commenting on the Options Paper, according to the Government of Saskatchewan鈥檚 backgrounder regarding The Future of Liquor Retailing in Saskatchewan.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Ultimately what the government found was that consumers wanted increased product selection and cost competitiveness, while wanting increased private liquor retail and a continued mixed model of delivery. It was also important to those who commented and conducted the survey that the government continue to maintain revenues from liquor sales even if private sales increased.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淲e received a lot of valuable feedback from stakeholders, customers, and the general public regarding their thoughts on the future of liquor retailing in the province,鈥� McMorris stated. 鈥淭his new direction reflects what we heard and I want to once again thank everyone who took part in the consultation process.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Request for Proposal to obtain a permit for one of the 52 newly privatized ventures is still being developed, but the process will include the individual applying to have 鈥渁 good character check, fulfilling public notice requirements, and obtaining a Ministry of Finance Vendor鈥檚 Licence.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 These liquor vendors have the ability to integrate the new private liquor stores in existing buildings 鈥� a grocery store 鈥� so long as it has its own entrance from both the outside and inside, and all transactions within the liquor store are kept separate from the parent business. However, within a community with less than 2,000 people liquor retail sales may be conducted within the existing business in line with the existing franchise model. This allowance is because a community of that size may be unable to support a standalone location.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The changes, which will include the closures of 40 government liquor stores to be privatized, will impact 196 employees as well as 10-15 employees in the head office. However, of the stores being privatized, liquor store employees will be given preferential consideration during the Request for Proposal process.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of change required to get our retail system where it needs to be and we now have a plan in place,鈥� McMorris said. 鈥淚n the end, we鈥檒l have a system that鈥檚 fair to retailers and beneficial to consumers while also protecting revenues for government priorities like infrastructure, education, and health care.鈥�
