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Over 25,000 people have signed the petition asking for the LBD to remain public. Opposition to the privatization is broad-based and includes the media, brewers, distillers, bar and restaurant owners, local government and the general public.
Vancouver (27 July 2012) - The B.C. Government and Service Employees Union (BCGEU/NUPGE) is renewing its call for the government to cancel the Request for Proposals (RFP) to privatize the Liquor Distribution Branch warehouse and distribution system.
The government released a short list of four possible companies on July 20.
“About 25,000 people have already signed the petition opposing the privatization of the LDB,” says BCGEU President Darryl Walker. “When we tell people there was no public consultation, no business case has been presented and that prices will increase for consumers, they are more than happy to add their name.”
The opposition to the privatization is broad based and includes the media, brewers, distillers, bar and restaurant owners, local government and the general public.
Quesnel, North Vancouver, New Westminster and Burnaby have already passed motions opposing the privatization and other local governments are likely to express their opposition if the RFP proceeds.
“It's clear there is very little support for this privatization except from the bidders who want the profits from operating a private monopoly distributing beer, wine and spirits in our province,” says Walker. “It makes absolutely no sense to selloff this important, revenue producing public agency. Instead of selling it off to the private sector, we should open public stores on Sundays, expand shopping hours and add a few more public liquor stores. We should expand the LDB, not fracture it and start selling off the pieces."
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE