Government should only provide services to citizens that are essential; I don't consider liquor sales to be essential services to the public. Furthermore, at no point should my tax dollars be paying someone over $30 an hour to run a till and to ignore me the entire time I'm in the store. The only people who have ever approached me are the reps from various liquor companies. Add to this the fact that I get ID'd every time I buy a tobacco product somewhere, and almost never for alcohol goes to show that I'm paying for a service with my tax dollars that is absolutely not superior to or more reliable than the private sector. I'd rather that money pay for a raise to teachers, or go to recruiting more doctors, or building highways; anything else, really.
Bill - 10 years ago
Saskatchewan government liquor stores should NOT be privatized! The quality of service at SLGA stores is second to none compared to private stores, judging by the private stores in Alberta. There is absolutely NO customer service in the private sector, I have recently shopped in a private store for nearly half an hour and was not approached by a single employee for assistance. The prices between the private and government sector barely differ, as well product selection is NOT better in a private stores in Alberta in comparison with Saskatchewan's government operated liquor stores. PLEASE DO NOT PRIVATIZE LIQUOR STORES OR ANY OTHER CROWN CORPORATIONS IN SASKATCHEWAN!!! If it isn't broken don't try to fix it....once privatized you cannot go back!
Sylvia - 10 years ago
Well-said Ralph!
Sylvia - 10 years ago
Trena - As a wine enthusiast...I'm afraid you'll still be woefully disappointed by a private liquor store because the items will still be shipped from the SLGA warehouse....so instead of wanting this money-making SLGA stores privatized, why don't you lobby your government to have a greater variety in the current stores. Some people can't think past the end of their nose!
Hailey Johson - 10 years ago
As a young worker in this great province I have a huge issue with this. First I would like to know what Mr. Wall is doing by putting these stores in place without asking us first. His let's-see-how-it-goes attitude is offensive. These public services are there to help support us and to help our communities. I may be wrong but the moment I hear "Private" I hear "Corporation" and from what I've learned that means a bigger separation between workers and the rich. Sorry for being a selfish 20 something year old with an all about me attitude but I rather see the money these stores make go into something useful like improving our quality of life, then to be burned to light a $200 cigar of some corporate executive so he can go for another 18 holes while thinking up new ways to screw us over.
Wes - 10 years ago
Well I've been in the workforce for over 35 years and what I see is the the 20 -40 year olds want everything "NOW" that most of us work our whole life to attain. So instead of cutting back on eating out, having all the toys, the cabin at the lake, travelling, and the best of everything .....they just want more money. The work ethic over the past 10 years has gone down hill. Talk to any contractor or service industry business owner, the kids coming into the job force now don't have the work ethic that was there 20 years ago. If it wasn't for the immigrants who would fill the positions at the fast food restaurants so that all those who are "too busy" to cook a meal could eat. Take a look around at how the physical condition of our society has deteriorated....with the comments I read it's as though some think everyone is working so hard for their dollars and yet the percentage of obesity in all ages is going through the roof....especially in the young age groups. I would much rather hire a 55 year old than a 20 year old that has been pampered their whole life with no responsibilities. I guess that's where the eager to work immigrants come in. Don't worry though, they will catch on soon enough and realize that they shouldn't have to work for their pay cheque either. There is no way that any government organization can compete with the private sector on retail....there's just too much dead weight. Regarding alcohol, last time I checked it was cheaper in Alberta. If there is a demand for a service or even a type of wine there will always be someone to fill that niche from the private sector. I'm guessing too many of these comments on here are from long time government or strong union workers.
Gary Vieser - 10 years ago
I agree with Russ. The sasktories are piece by piece privatizing our Province and people are taking it in, hook-line and sinker. We are suppose to be a "have" Province and we can not even put money into the Heritage Fund. Something does not smell quite right.
Russ - 10 years ago
There is no reason why publicly owned Liquor stores can't offer a great selection at reasonable prices. If the Government would quite siphoning off all the profits and allow the stores to operate in a competitive fashion and let store managers build the business we could have great selection, competitive pricing, good paying middle class jobs and profits returned to the people of Saskatchewan. Last I heard the private sector couldn't even attract workers and was relying on Temporary Foreign Workers because they were unwilling to pay above poverty wages. This whole idea is nothing more than industry/Government's continued attack on the middle class. Ask yourself someday "If the province is doing as well as Mr. Wall would like us to believe why is the government and industry so reluctant to pay living wages".
WEs - 10 years ago
The government gets revenue from the taxes on liquor regardless of if its sold in a public or private vendor. If anyone thinks that the high wages, pension, and cost of operating their excessive facilities actually produces a profit is fooling themselves. Look at the financials to see what is spent on pension, facilities, and wages for these facilities. We will see how the two new private liquor stores in Regina and Saskatoon fair compared to the government run. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the two new private stores. Maybe those naysayers should go check them out. The only ones that are concerned about privatization are the workers, members from other unions, and of course the NDP since they rely on a portion of union dues for campaign funding (fewer union members = less funding) As far as suggestions on wines/liquors...there's always the internet.
Greg - 10 years ago
I wonder where those claiming that private liquor stores function better are getting their data; I recall a study I read a few years ago that showed that when public liquor stores were replaced by the private sector prices went up, variety of selection went down, and there was a marked increase in crime (combinations of liquor store robberies and crime related to alcohol purchased from private vendors).
Sabrina Fullawka - 10 years ago
So what's next on the SK party agenda? You open private liquor stores, you open up the door to more under age drinking. I'm sorry, but you have no accountability when it's private and if I was 19 working at a private liquor store I would sell to all my friends. Who cares it's only a job to me. It's a career to our brothers and sisters working at SLGA! Give your head a shake.
Barbara Cape - 10 years ago
Don't forget folks, the profits from our liquor stores help pay for our public services: lower education/tuition for universities; healthcare; roads; you name it! And as a 'budding' wine drinker, the liquor store staff are helpful, make great suggestions and have taught me about wine. What they do is a little bit more involved than just working at the check-out. It's one thing to have a knee-jerk reaction, but let's pause and consider what we would be losing.
Wes - 10 years ago
Paying fulltime employees $25-33+ /hour plus a generous retirement package to basically provide the same service as a clerk in a convenience store is ridiculous. Actually that's not a fair statement a clerk in a convenience store has many more duties that a SLS employee. To say the taxpayers of Saskatchewan should be footing the bill so someone can have a high paying job is unacceptable. Some of these people have been there too long and need to see what a "real" job entails. I have been to numerous liquor stores in Canada and the USA.....funny how the alcohol tastes the same from the private vendors as the government run SLS. I must admit that you won't find liquor store monuments anywhere else in the world.....another waste of taxpayers money.
ken - 10 years ago
The government should not be in the liquior bussiness the private sector can do a much better job.
Its a good thing that peoples need for a variety of wine will cost many people their living
Trena - 10 years ago
Saskatchewan needs to move forward and grow as a province. As a wine enthusiast I want to see a greater variety, and have a choice as to where i can purchase liquor. B.C went through the same process and it didn't hurt the BCLB.
Government should only provide services to citizens that are essential; I don't consider liquor sales to be essential services to the public. Furthermore, at no point should my tax dollars be paying someone over $30 an hour to run a till and to ignore me the entire time I'm in the store. The only people who have ever approached me are the reps from various liquor companies. Add to this the fact that I get ID'd every time I buy a tobacco product somewhere, and almost never for alcohol goes to show that I'm paying for a service with my tax dollars that is absolutely not superior to or more reliable than the private sector. I'd rather that money pay for a raise to teachers, or go to recruiting more doctors, or building highways; anything else, really.
Saskatchewan government liquor stores should NOT be privatized! The quality of service at SLGA stores is second to none compared to private stores, judging by the private stores in Alberta. There is absolutely NO customer service in the private sector, I have recently shopped in a private store for nearly half an hour and was not approached by a single employee for assistance. The prices between the private and government sector barely differ, as well product selection is NOT better in a private stores in Alberta in comparison with Saskatchewan's government operated liquor stores. PLEASE DO NOT PRIVATIZE LIQUOR STORES OR ANY OTHER CROWN CORPORATIONS IN SASKATCHEWAN!!! If it isn't broken don't try to fix it....once privatized you cannot go back!
Well-said Ralph!
Trena - As a wine enthusiast...I'm afraid you'll still be woefully disappointed by a private liquor store because the items will still be shipped from the SLGA warehouse....so instead of wanting this money-making SLGA stores privatized, why don't you lobby your government to have a greater variety in the current stores. Some people can't think past the end of their nose!
As a young worker in this great province I have a huge issue with this. First I would like to know what Mr. Wall is doing by putting these stores in place without asking us first. His let's-see-how-it-goes attitude is offensive. These public services are there to help support us and to help our communities. I may be wrong but the moment I hear "Private" I hear "Corporation" and from what I've learned that means a bigger separation between workers and the rich. Sorry for being a selfish 20 something year old with an all about me attitude but I rather see the money these stores make go into something useful like improving our quality of life, then to be burned to light a $200 cigar of some corporate executive so he can go for another 18 holes while thinking up new ways to screw us over.
Well I've been in the workforce for over 35 years and what I see is the the 20 -40 year olds want everything "NOW" that most of us work our whole life to attain. So instead of cutting back on eating out, having all the toys, the cabin at the lake, travelling, and the best of everything .....they just want more money. The work ethic over the past 10 years has gone down hill. Talk to any contractor or service industry business owner, the kids coming into the job force now don't have the work ethic that was there 20 years ago. If it wasn't for the immigrants who would fill the positions at the fast food restaurants so that all those who are "too busy" to cook a meal could eat. Take a look around at how the physical condition of our society has deteriorated....with the comments I read it's as though some think everyone is working so hard for their dollars and yet the percentage of obesity in all ages is going through the roof....especially in the young age groups. I would much rather hire a 55 year old than a 20 year old that has been pampered their whole life with no responsibilities. I guess that's where the eager to work immigrants come in. Don't worry though, they will catch on soon enough and realize that they shouldn't have to work for their pay cheque either. There is no way that any government organization can compete with the private sector on retail....there's just too much dead weight. Regarding alcohol, last time I checked it was cheaper in Alberta. If there is a demand for a service or even a type of wine there will always be someone to fill that niche from the private sector. I'm guessing too many of these comments on here are from long time government or strong union workers.
I agree with Russ. The sasktories are piece by piece privatizing our Province and people are taking it in, hook-line and sinker. We are suppose to be a "have" Province and we can not even put money into the Heritage Fund. Something does not smell quite right.
There is no reason why publicly owned Liquor stores can't offer a great selection at reasonable prices. If the Government would quite siphoning off all the profits and allow the stores to operate in a competitive fashion and let store managers build the business we could have great selection, competitive pricing, good paying middle class jobs and profits returned to the people of Saskatchewan. Last I heard the private sector couldn't even attract workers and was relying on Temporary Foreign Workers because they were unwilling to pay above poverty wages. This whole idea is nothing more than industry/Government's continued attack on the middle class. Ask yourself someday "If the province is doing as well as Mr. Wall would like us to believe why is the government and industry so reluctant to pay living wages".
The government gets revenue from the taxes on liquor regardless of if its sold in a public or private vendor. If anyone thinks that the high wages, pension, and cost of operating their excessive facilities actually produces a profit is fooling themselves. Look at the financials to see what is spent on pension, facilities, and wages for these facilities. We will see how the two new private liquor stores in Regina and Saskatoon fair compared to the government run. I have heard nothing but rave reviews about the two new private stores. Maybe those naysayers should go check them out. The only ones that are concerned about privatization are the workers, members from other unions, and of course the NDP since they rely on a portion of union dues for campaign funding (fewer union members = less funding) As far as suggestions on wines/liquors...there's always the internet.
I wonder where those claiming that private liquor stores function better are getting their data; I recall a study I read a few years ago that showed that when public liquor stores were replaced by the private sector prices went up, variety of selection went down, and there was a marked increase in crime (combinations of liquor store robberies and crime related to alcohol purchased from private vendors).
So what's next on the SK party agenda? You open private liquor stores, you open up the door to more under age drinking. I'm sorry, but you have no accountability when it's private and if I was 19 working at a private liquor store I would sell to all my friends. Who cares it's only a job to me. It's a career to our brothers and sisters working at SLGA! Give your head a shake.
Don't forget folks, the profits from our liquor stores help pay for our public services: lower education/tuition for universities; healthcare; roads; you name it! And as a 'budding' wine drinker, the liquor store staff are helpful, make great suggestions and have taught me about wine. What they do is a little bit more involved than just working at the check-out. It's one thing to have a knee-jerk reaction, but let's pause and consider what we would be losing.
Paying fulltime employees $25-33+ /hour plus a generous retirement package to basically provide the same service as a clerk in a convenience store is ridiculous. Actually that's not a fair statement a clerk in a convenience store has many more duties that a SLS employee. To say the taxpayers of Saskatchewan should be footing the bill so someone can have a high paying job is unacceptable. Some of these people have been there too long and need to see what a "real" job entails. I have been to numerous liquor stores in Canada and the USA.....funny how the alcohol tastes the same from the private vendors as the government run SLS. I must admit that you won't find liquor store monuments anywhere else in the world.....another waste of taxpayers money.
The government should not be in the liquior bussiness the private sector can do a much better job.
Its a good thing that peoples need for a variety of wine will cost many people their living
Saskatchewan needs to move forward and grow as a province. As a wine enthusiast I want to see a greater variety, and have a choice as to where i can purchase liquor. B.C went through the same process and it didn't hurt the BCLB.