(Mat Barrett/northeastNOW Staff)

By Mat Barrett

Liquor Stores

‘It’s a good thing, not a bad thing’: Melfort Mayor weighs in on latest SLGA announcement

May 10, 2019 | 5:11 PM

The Government of Saskatchewan made an announcement on Thursday, May 9 regarding changes for new retail liquor permits in the province.

The new rules that are based on a municipality’s population will allow for some new opportunities in some cities and towns.

Minister Responsible for Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming, Gene Makowsky said the changes are part of the modernization of the liquor business in the province.

“Our plan was to have more convenience, more choice, and more competitive pricing,” Makowsky told northeastNOW. “When you bring in other competitors in addition to the government stores, there is competition there.”

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The government did announce that they will no longer have any new government run stores, but there are 36 still running in the province according to Makowsky, including the one in Melfort.

With the new rules, a municipality with between 5,001 and 10,000 people would qualify for four liquor distributers, that includes off-sale outlets as well. Melfort, with a population of over 6,000 would fall in that category. Currently, the city only has three distributors; the current government run establishment, Chances R, and Drafties Pub, leaving room for the possibility of one more. Mayor Rick Lang said that the possibility of another business in Melfort is good.

“We think that there is an opportunity out there for someone,” Lang said. “Certainly something that certain parties would have an interest in. So, from our perspective, I would say it is a good thing not a bad thing.”

Lang added no matter the business, the city is always looking for additions to their business community.

“Our economic development people are always willing to work with anybody who qualifies for those opportunities,” he said. “And we always do our best to make sure that transition can happen.”

As for what liquor distributer might come to Melfort, and where it might be situated, Lang said that is still an unknown, but the wheels are turning.

“There’s some ideas out there as to certain parties that might be interested, and how quickly it would unfold of course depends on rules and regulations and hurdles to cross and all that kind of stuff,” Lang told northeastNOW. “But certainly there’s some feeling that there will be some interest in the city of Melfort.”

According to Makowsky, the process to get a liquor permit will be through an online bid program.

Other communities that could be eligible for another distributor could be Martensville, Weyburn, and Estevan. However, some larger centres like Prince Albert, Saskatoon, and Regina are at their cap currently.

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mat.barrett@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @matbarrett6