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Saskatchewan's liquor privatization creates unequal playing field

Small-town business owners in Saskatchewan discuss how the province's liquor privatization scheme is harming local economies.

Regina (16 Aug. 2016) — The Saskatchewan Government and General Employees' Union (SGEU/NUPGE) has released a number of videos online showing how the province's liquor privatization is creating an unequal playing field for stores in smaller communities.

Laurie Leigh of Maple Creek owns the Rockin' Horse Cookhouse and Bar. In the video below she explains how liquor privatization will create an unequal playing field and pit small-town business owners against one another.

In 2014, Ituna's public liquor store was closed. In its place, one local business was permitted to sell liquor. Both of the town's two grocery stores applied for the liquor franchise, but Murray Anderson, owner of Anderson's Family Foods, had his application rejected. In the video below he explains how his business is suffering.

More information:

Quiet changes to liquor privatization plan will hurt even more small towns 

Keep Liquor Public: Stop the privatization of liquor sales

NUPGE 

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 360,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE