Locations, owners announced for 50 private liquor stores
Former SLGA employees to operate 6 stores
The Saskatchewan government has announced the list of store locations and owners involved in the major privatization overhaul of its liquor system.
The change involves the privatization of 39 existing government-owned liquor stores and permitting 11 more private liquor stores to open.
The plan to convert approximately half of the government-owned liquor stores to private liquor stores was announced in 2015, before the latest provincial election in April. The government said at that time it wouldn't go ahead with the plan until after the election.
- 'Uneven playing field': Sask. government makes liquor changes
- Applications open for 5 private liquor stores
Liquor store employees to operate 6 stores
When the Saskatchewan government first announced its plans to privatize the stores, it said 170 workers would receive job-loss notices, and that those affected would receive preferential treatment during the bidding process for the permits to operate the new private stores.
The government requested proposals in July, and now the successful proponents have been selected for the 50 stores. Fourteen of the successful proposals come from co-operatives, nine from Sobeys, and six selected owners are Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) employees affected by the changes.
When, where private stores are opening
Before receiving permits, the people who proposed to operate the stores must complete the regulatory portion of the application process.
The government says the 39 existing SLGA stores that are converting to private stores will continue to operate until the new locations are open. Those 39 stores set to be privatized include SLGA locations at 20th St. W and Market Mall in Saskatoon and 12th Avenue and Broad Street in Regina.
Opening dates for the new stores will vary, depending on whether new stores are being built or if renovations are planned. A government release says many of the stores are opening within one year, and stores in Regina, Saskatoon, Yorkton, Melville, Lloydminster, Moose Jaw and Kindersley must open in 2018.
People and businesses have successfully applied to run private stores in the following communities:
| Location | Ownership type | New store or previous government-owned store? |
|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | entrepreneur | new private store |
| Battleford | Sobeys | privatized former SLGA store |
| Bienfait | entrepreneur | new private store |
| Broadview | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Canora | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Carrot River | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Dalmeny | co-operative | new private store |
| Davidson | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Emerald Park/White City | Sobeys | new private store |
| Foam Lake | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Gravelbourg | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Gull Lake | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Hague | entrepreneur | new private store |
| Hudson Bay | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Indian Head | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Kamsack | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Kelvington | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Kindersley | Sobeys | privatized former SLGA store |
| Kipling | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Lanigan | liquor store employee | privatized former SLGA store |
| Leader | ownership group including liquor store employee | privatized former SLGA store |
| Lloydminster | liquor store employee | privatized former SLGA store |
| Maple Creek | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Melville | Sobeys | privatized former SLGA store |
| Moose Jaw | Sobeys | new private store |
| Osler | entrepreneur | new private store |
| Outlook | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Pilot Butte | entrepreneur | new private store |
| Preeceville | liquor store employee | privatized former SLGA store |
| Raymore | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Regina | Sobeys | one Regina outlet will be a new private store, one will be a converted former public SLGA store (12th Avenue and Broad Street) |
| Regina | Metro Liquor, a B.C.-based liquor retailer working with Saskatchewan partners | one Regina outlet will be a new private store, one will be a converted former public SLGA store (12th Avenue and Broad Street) |
| Rosetown | business owners in Yellowknife with ties to Saskatchewan, according to government release | privatized former SLGA store |
| Rosthern | ownership group including liquor store employee | privatized former SLGA store |
| Saskatoon | Sobeys | one Saskatoon outlet will be a new private store, two will be converted former public SLGA stores (20th St. W and Market Mall locations) |
| Saskatoon | Metro Liquor, a B.C.-based liquor retailer working with Saskatchewan partners | one Saskatoon outlet will be a new private store, two will be converted former public SLGA stores (20th St. W and Market Mall locations) |
| Saskatoon | Liquor Stores North America, based in Edmonton | one Saskatoon outlet will be a new private store, two will be converted former public SLGA stores (20th St. W and Market Mall locations) |
| Shaunavon | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Shellbrook | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| St. Walburg | ownership group including liquor store employee | privatized former SLGA store |
| Stoughton | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Tisdale | Sobeys | privatized former SLGA store |
| Unity | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Wadena | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Wakaw | entrepreneur | privatized former SLGA store |
| Waskesiu | Saskatchewan-based partnership of small business owners | privatized former SLGA store |
| Watson | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Wilkie | co-operative | privatized former SLGA store |
| Wynyard | business owners in Yellowknife with ties to Saskatchewan, according to government release | privatized former SLGA store |
| Yorkton | Sobeys | new private store |
11 new stores slated for 'underserved' communities
The government said population and expected growth in 11 communities showed they could support new private liquor stores. Those include locations in Regina and Saskatoon, though it's not clear in which specific neighbourhoods those stores will open. Moose Jaw, Yorkton, Emerald Park/White City, Aberdeen, Pilot Butte, Dalmeny, Osler, Hague and Bienfait are also on that list.