Vancouver votes to block liquor privatization

Catholic New Times, May 4, 2003

VANCOUVER -- The City of Vancouver has joined 56 other councils and school boards across British Columbia in calling for consultation and a moratorium on the Campbell government's drive to vastly expand and privatize the network of liquor distribution outlets in the province.

Following a presentation by George Heyman, president of the British Columbia Government and Service Employees' Union (BCGEU/NUPGE), Vancouver Council not only joined the anti-privatization parade but went an important step further.

The council voted to restrict liquor store locations within the city to sites where they already exist. An exception was made for specialty "beer only" and "wine only" stores. The city government clearly feels--as customer satisfaction surveys bear out--that the public is well served by the existing liquor stores.

"Vancouver has made the right decision," says the BCGEU. "Every other province--with the lonely exception of Alberta--has rejected privatization Of liquor sales. And Alberta provides vivid examples of how it disrupts community values."

Calgary had 23 liquor stores prior to privatization in 1995. The number has since mushroomed to almost 300, some as little as 50 feet apart. On one street in Calgary there are now more liquor stores than there used to be in the entire city.

In January, Calgary Police reported that drunk driving continues to steadily increase since privatization came into effect. Meanwhile, liquor offences in Edmonton--such as intoxication, illegal possession and supplying minors--have tripled since privatization.

Liberal Premier Gordon Campbell, convicted of drunk driving earlier this year in Hawaii, has modified some of his pro-liquor agenda as a result of the scandal. But he has not yet put the brakes on liquor privatization, which will cost British Columbia taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars in lost revenues and usher in social problems such as those experienced in Alberta.