Changes could be coming to Saskatchewan in how future liquor sales are handled.

Arm River-Watrous MLA Greg Brkich said converting small Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) stores from public to private hands is not the most pressing issue among his constituents, but he would be listening this summer to the people he represents about what they think the government’s role in the business of selling liquor should be. He said the four rural SLGA liquor stores in Langenburg, Ituna, Ponteix and Kerrobert that have recently been marked for closure due to their high operating costs are examples of stores in small towns that could be better served by private vendors.

Brkich said many of his constituents such as in Kenaston, Hanley and Dundurn are already served by private vendors and only a few of the towns in Arm River-Watrous such as Davidson have a SLGA store. He said it needs to be known if people want the government to stay in the business of owning and maintaining these buildings after the next election or whether they should just be involved in the “rules and regulations” side and let the private vendors do the rest.

“A small town (private) franchise, we’re still getting the tax off the liquor and we don’t have the expenses,” said Brkich. “It costs money to operate that store. It costs money for the employees, it costs money for heat, it costs money for maintenance (and) all of (this has) to be factored in when you’re looking at whether a store actually shows profit.”

Cam Broten, leader of the Opposition in the Saskatchewan Legislature, also began by stating the privatization of SLGA stores is not top of mind among the Saskatchewan people, but what they have been hearing about is the things concerning SLGA that irritate the public. He said these issues could be addressed through “common sense modernization” initiatives such as public stores providing better hours and a better selection of product.

“Those steps government could take right away to make the SLGA stores better,” said Broten. “In doing that, what it would guarantee is that the hundreds of millions of dollars that the province receives through SLGA would stay there. That is really important because those hundreds of millions of dollars support health care, support education (and) support roads and that’s a really important aspect that the Sask. Party is not talking about.”

The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees’ Union (SGEU) recently distributed a petition among Davidson businesses entitled “Keep small town Saskatchewan strong: Stop the closure of public liquor stores in rural communities.” The petition states the closure of SLGA stores results in a loss of jobs and quality public service along with the other advantages these stores provide to a community.

To read more please see the June 9 print edition of The Davidson Leader.