CAQ not interested in ending the SAQ’s liquor monopoly
Posted May 4, 2023 11:29 am.
Some Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) members would like to see the SAQ’s liquor monopoly in Quebec come to an end.
Party members from the Saint-Jérôme riding indicated as much, by adding this topic to the list of issues to be discussed at the CAQ’s 2023 conference coming up on May 13-14.
But it doesn’t look like that will happen anytime soon.
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On Wednesday, CAQ finance minister, Eric Girard put an end to that possibility by stating that the SAQ revenue is far too important for Quebec’s public services, and that the government has no intention of jeopardizing that income.
During a parliamentary committee hearing on Wednesday, Girard explained that the government refuses to privatize the state monopoly because it helps pay for schools and hospitals.
SAQ revenue brings in $2.2 billion dollars, said Girard, when one also counts taxes.
Before being elected Premier, François Legault had advocated for the SAQ’s privatization, but quickly abandoned the idea after gaining power.
Currently, Conservative Leader Éric Duhaime is the only major political figure in Quebec who supports the idea.
He says that alcoholic beverage producers in the province face far too many obstacles in getting their products out on the market and that consumers are often left with limited choices or pay too much.
Dismantling a monopoly and allowing for more competition might drive prices down, he believes, which would benefit consumers.
At the moment it doesn’t appear to be an issue that other political parties are interested in championing, believing that the status quo benefits Quebecers most.
