By Derek Cornet

La Ronge business owner averse to proposed liquor restrictions

Jan 20, 2018 | 2:20 PM

The owners and managers of liquor establishments in La Ronge aren’t pleased with 15 out of 49 recommendations Town Council approved as part of the Community Alcohol Management Plan.

This comes according to Tania Colbert, the general manager of Northland Motor Hotel, who said the aforementioned was the consensus of a meeting between herself and representatives from Eddies Place, Kostas and the Motor Inn. The group is most concerned with the five per cent levy, reduced business hours and the number of days they wouldn’t be permitted to sell alcohol.

“We don’t want to be told what days we can open and can’t,” Colbert said. “It’s going to kill our businesses completely. It could be a possible 127 days they want us to be closed if you break down all those days.”

Altogether, Colbert noted a total of 62 employees from all four establishments would have their hours cut if the recommendations became law. Out of the 18 people currently employed at Colbert’s business, five people would also likely be laid off, she said. 

Colbert went on to say the group also has problems with no last call, providing free non-alcoholic beverages, allowing the town to see their liquor licenses before being sent to the province, and replacing all glass cups and shooter glasses with plastic.

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“Why not focus on the people who are on the streets here?” Colbert asked. “They’re not creating any solutions. They should be focusing on wet houses or detox. We’ve even discussed with them we’d be willing to contribute to something like that.”

Colbert said the group of bar owners and managers doesn’t feel they have the support they should as local businesses.

derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno