The Saskatchewan side of Lloydminster will soon be home to a privatized liquor store.
The government has announced that as a result of a pulbic consultation on the province’s liquor retailing system, they have decided to privatize 40 government run stores, including Lloydminster’s store in at 5006 48A Avenue.
MLA Colleen Young says the decision will put all liquor stores in the city on equal ground.
“As we know, we have a number of Alberta private liquor stores here already that have been operating for a very long time, and just the one on the Saskatchewan side, which is the government one,” Young said. “The whole purpose behind this is to level the playing field within the liquor industry.
Ward Read, CEO of Lloydminster Economic Development says he believes the change will mean good things for the consumers.
“It will probably [give the Lloydminster store] an opportunity to be more price competitive, to offer some different competitive programming, sales, or even, I noticed in the government’s release that there’s an ability for loyalty programs,” Read said. “So, some of the similar programs or sales that are offered through some of the other stores that we might have already in Lloydminster, Alberta, they might become an option for the new private store managers here in Lloydminster, Saskatchewan.”
The government says they will also open an additional 12 private stores in under-served communities.
The changes will be implemented after the next provincial election, in April.