Gary Coons

Last week the Official Opposition hammered the Campbell government for unfair liquor pricing policies that are driving many rural general stores to the brink of bankruptcy.

At issue is the fact that private liquor stores in urban areas get a 16 per cent discount on liquor, while rural general stores only get 10 per cent off.  

“The government shouldn’t penalize these stores for serving this province’s most remote communities,” said North Coast MLA Gary Coons. “It’s time to give rural agency stores a fair deal. Whether it is the Bayview Market in Port Clements, the Sandspit Super Valu, the Band Store in Bella Coola, the Tillicum MiniMart in the Nass or Shearwater Marine on Denny Island. These are mostly family run businesses and serve as a centrepiece of their community. Especially in these difficult times we must support these stores and ensure their viability.”

A group of rural agency store owners from across the province were in the legislature to hear the Campbell government answer for their policies, but they came away disappointed.

Private liquor stores have donated more than $350, 000 to the B.C. Liberal party, and their lobbying group, ABLE, has participated in recent pro-Liberal ad campaigns.

“In many cases these stores are the post-office and grocery store in addition to being a liquor store,” said Coons. “If these stores go out of business it will deeply harm some of our province’s most remote communities.”