Manitoba Liberals promise lower booze prices, possible privatization

The Manitoba Liberal Party promised lower booze prices and the possible privatization of the province's liquor system Wednesday, although details were few and far between.

Liberal Leader Rana Bokhari said her party will soon launch public consultation on ways to improve the government-dominated liquor network, and will examine everything from Alberta's private system to fully-public models in other provinces.

"I want to put the ideas out there, I want to have a dialogue," Bokhari said. "I want to listen to Manitobans and see where their heads are at."

The Liberals hold just one of the 57 seats in the legislature and are promising to develop a detailed liquor platform before the provincial election slated for next April.

Bokhari said people have complained to her that Manitoba's system — which is comprised mainly of government-run stores along with some private wine stores and hotel beer vendors — is too expensive and cumbersome.

Even if the system remains public, Bokhari said a Liberal government would enact changes to reduce prices, including:

• Volume discounts for bars, restaurants and private functions such as socials.
• A ban on advertising, except for educational campaigns, by the Crown-owned Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries.
• An order to the Crown corporation to find further cost savings and lower retail prices.

The Manitoba Government Employees Union, among others, has come out against the idea of a privatized system. The union has said private stores could lead to a spike in crime and underage drinking because private operators might not check customers' ages.

Ron Lemieux, the minister responsible for liquor and lotteries, said Bokhari's plan would leave the province with less money for campaigns against impaired driving.

"That money goes to some private owner some place. That private owner may not have an interest in social responsibility."

Lemieux also said he would like lower beer prices as much as anyone else, but liquor sales help government revenues.

The Alberta government got out of the retail liquor game 20 years ago. It maintains a markup at the wholesale level that puts more than $700 million a year into government coffers.