The Town of Creighton is still looking for answers from the province about the future of the town’s liquor store, as an auction for the store’s liquor permit starts up this week.
Town council received correspondence from Lori Carr, the provincial minister responsible for overseeing the Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) at their Feb. 8 meeting. In that role, Carr has presided over the SLGA’s decision to shut down its remaining publicly owned liquor stores throughout the province - a move that includes the store in Creighton, which will close soon unless a private buyer for it is found.
“I understand the concerns you raised in your letter about the announcement of government exiting the retail liquor market and the impact it may have on members of your community,” reads the letter from Carr, dated Jan. 30.
“I wish to assure you that the SLGA and the government of Saskatchewan are committed to undertaking this transition in a manner that does not cause additional harm in communities.”
The closure of the store would mean the only methods of purchasing liquor for Creighton residents would be off-sale purchases from the Hooter or from liquor stores in Flin Flon, including two off-sales and the Flin Flon Liquor Mart, which is owned and operated by Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.
Creighton Mayor Bruce Fidler, who sent an initial letter to the ministry asking for information back in December, said he was disappointed with the SLGA’s decision to close stores, doing so with little to no consultation with the communities they serve.
“I find it quite disappointing. I don’t know their ideas or thoughts are behind this, going into privatization. I’ve made that clear before. It could a number of workers out of work and it could stop servicing Creighton for whatever length of time it takes, if nobody’s interested in taking it over or bidding on it,” he said.
“It’s a concern, for how it’s going to affect jobs and services to the community.”
Fidler said, aside from the response to the letter, there hasn’t been any official correspondence from the province, though he had spoken with minister Carr.
“I’ve talked with minister Carr a couple of times and, of course, there was the letter. She couldn’t tell me the rationale behind it - whatever," he said.
SLGA currently plans to open an auction for the retail store permit for the Creighton liquor store Feb. 15 - whoever buys that permit will be able to set up a liquor store anywhere in Creighton where they would be in compliance with local zoning bylaws, not just confined to the current liquor store space, located at Creighton Main Street and Fourth Avenue.
“The successful bidder of the retail store permit will be able to establish a liquor store anywhere in Creighton, according to local zoning bylaws. SLGA will also list all its owned buildings with a commercial realtor in the coming weeks and months, including the Creighton property. The successful bidder of the retail store permit in Creighton will have the opportunit to make an offer to purchase the property,” reads the letter from Carr.
“Whoever gets the licence will have the option to put a bid on the building itself,” said Fidler.
“As long as it fits the zoning bylaws, then okay.”
