Public auction of Sask. liquor store licenses begins
A public auction of Saskatchewan liquor store licenses began on Monday. The government is closing its 34 remaining SLGA locations with licenses going to the highest bidder.
Moose Jaw’s historic railway station liquor store was the latest to close on the weekend as the government gets out of the liquor retail business.
Bob Stadnichuk, vice president of SGEU and Saskatoon liquor store employee, said there is basically nothing left in the stores that will attract customers.
“What’s been happening is that they just allow everything to deplete and we move stuff around and some people move the shelves around to make it look fuller,” he said.
Lori Carr, minister for liquor and gaming, watched online as bids came in.
“For the next four days, five more stores will open up (for license sale) every day. Saskatoon and Regina will be on every day then various communities added.”
Five are on the auction block now with more to come. There are 34 stores closing. Initial bids ranged from $24,000 for a Saskatoon license to $1,000 in Carlyle. Each license will be on sale for about 10 days.
“With this process, we are able to have people bid throughout the entire province without having to go to a specific location and get the highest bid for the taxpayers,” Carr said.
The public can follow the bids online at McDougall Auctions but must know the sale keyword, which is “liquor.”
Those wishing to bid must register and make a $5,000 refundable deposit.
Stock from locations that have closed will be moved to Regina and Saskatoon for final clear out by March 11.
Product remaining on the shelves cannot be returned to the warehouse and will be discounted until gone.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Health Canada to change sperm donor screening rules for men who have sex with men
Health Canada will change its longstanding policy restricting gay and bisexual men from donating to sperm banks in Canada, CTV News has learned. The federal health agency has adopted a revised directive removing the ban on gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men, effective May 8.
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Closing arguments heard in trial for Sask. dad accused of abducting daughter
Closing arguments were heard Thursday morning in the case of Michael Gordon Jackson, the Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter in 2021 to keep her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine.
Cat found on Toronto Pearson airport runway 3 days after going missing
Kevin the cat has been reunited with his family after enduring a harrowing three-day ordeal while lost at Toronto Pearson International Airport earlier this week.