'Very detrimental': SLGA workers call for liquor stores to remain open amid closures
About a dozen SLGA employees came to the Saskatchewan Legislative building to ask that their liquor stores remain open. Michelle Zimmer is a 17 year employee in Saskatoon.
“I’ve been a single income family, a single mom so these kinds of jobs allow us to not absolutely have to struggle to pay our bills, to have our kids in a happy healthy household,” Zimmer told CTV News.
Courtney Topping works in the Prince Albert SLGA location. The announcement of the closure of province owned liquor stores has been detrimental to her family.
“December 1st I was supposed to have a mortgage. I had to turn that down with my partner. It’s actually been very detrimental,” she said.
The remaining 34 provincially owned liquor stores and their licences are set to be auctioned off to private interests. The NDP called for a stop to the plan.
“This decision is a mistake. Will the minister change course and scrap this plan today?”NDP MLA Nathaniel Teed asked during Question Period.
The Minister responsible for the SLGA reminded the opposition MLA of what he wrote in a letter to government prior to being elected.
“’I see the benefits of having private corporations running the stores. These privately run stores are doing an excellent job servicing the Saskatchewan community,’” Carr said, quoting the letter from Teed.
The government blames dwindling profits for the store closures. Some workers feel they were set up to fail.
“[Its] impossible for us to get hold of pop and chips that people are coming in and looking for in a one stop store,” Bob Sadnichuk, a representative for SGEU told CTV News.
“Ice, they would not even allow us to sell ice.”
The affected SLGA workers say the holiday season is the most profitable time of the year yet their shelves are half empty as much of the stock is cleared out and not replenished.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
PM Trudeau presenting premiers with health-care funding offer
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is presenting the federal government's offer for billions in new health-care funding to the provinces and territories at a highly anticipated meeting in Ottawa today. At the first in-person meeting of all First Ministers in years, Trudeau is set to outline how much money his government is willing to provide, and what his expectations are for improving care.

Newborn, toddler saved from rubble in quake-hit Syrian town
Residents digging through a collapsed building in a northwest Syrian town discovered a crying infant whose mother appears to have given birth to her while buried underneath the rubble from this week's devastating earthquake, relatives and a doctor said Tuesday.
BREAKING | B.C. to make National Day for Truth and Reconciliation a paid statutory holiday
The British Columbia government has introduced legislation to make Sept. 30 a paid statutory holiday marking the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Canadians now expect to need $1.7M in order to retire: BMO survey
Canadians now believe they need $1.7 million in savings in order to retire, a 20 per cent increase from 2020, according to a new BMO survey. The eye-watering figure is the largest sum since BMO first started surveying Canadians about their retirement expectations 13 years ago.
U.S. actor facing sex charges in Nevada also facing charge in B.C.
A former actor in the movie 'Dances With Wolves' who is facing eight sex-related charges in Nevada is also facing a charge in British Columbia.
Germany, Denmark, Netherlands pledge Ukraine Leopard 1 tanks
Germany, Denmark and the Netherlands announced Tuesday that they plan to provide Ukraine with at least 100 refurbished Leopard 1 battle tanks, a pledge that comes as Kyiv anticipates a new Russian offensive around the anniversary of its invasion.
Dog named Kujo likely to 'kill or injure,' B.C. court rules in euthanasia decision
A dog named Kujo will be euthanized after a B.C. judge determined the animal is "likely to kill or injure" if released from the pound.
Quake deaths pass 6,200 as Turkiye, Syria seek survivors
Search teams and emergency aid from around the world poured into Turkiye and Syria on Tuesday as rescuers working in freezing temperatures dug, sometimes with their bare hands, through the remains of buildings flattened by a powerful earthquake. The death toll soared above 6,200 and was still expected to rise.
Canada announces $10 million in aid to Turkiye, Syria after deadly earthquake
Ottawa says Canada will contribute $10 million to earthquake relief efforts in Turkiye and Syria as part of an initial aid package.