As the Pallister government continues down its risky path to further privatize Manitoba liquor sales, the government has introduced legislation that would allow the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority of Manitoba (LGCA) to hire minors to help enforce the laws that keep liquor and cannabis out of the hands of underaged Manitobans.
Bill 60, introduced in the legislature earlier this month, and released to the public yesterday, would allow LGCA to hire "minor agents" to help enforce the law.
MGEU President, Michelle Gawronsky, says the amendments to enforcement legislation are connected to the government’s privatization scheme (Bill 40) and are simply a weak smokescreen to support their plans to privatize more liquor sales.
“This government knows that with the private, for-profit model comes a significantly heightened risk that more alcohol will be sold to minors to increase profits. Research has shown that the best way to prevent sales to minors is to invest in the public delivery system that has proven effective. In Manitoba, Liquor Mart employees are trained and educated in preventing illegal sales to minors, and don’t have a profit motive to look the other way when minors try to buy alcohol,” she added.
The MGEU has told the government that further liquor privatization, particularly during the pandemic, is the wrong move and has called on the government to stop its privatization push for liquor sales.
Profits from
Manitoba’s Public Liquor Marts stay in Manitoba, generating over $28O million
in profits and tax revenue each year to help fund health, education and other
crucial services.