The Election has been and gone and Premiere Clarke has announced her new cabinet, Minister Rich Coleman is no longer the Liquor Boss, instead former Vancouver City Councillor and Mayoral candidate Suzanne Anton has been named Attorney General and Justice Minister. However it is John Yap, MLA for Richmond-Steveston who has been made “Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Justice and Attorney General for Liquor Policy Reform.” Christy Clarke announced, “He will lead the stakeholder consultation on modernizing B.C.’s antiquated liquor laws and recommend improvements to the minister to take to Cabinet.”
This is a clear acknowledgement that BC’s laws are antiquated, that reform is a priority and that stakeholders will be consulted. Of course, politicians are well renowned for not doing what they promise, but the fact that a specific MLA has been appointed to this task shows that they are serious about a consultation and a review leading to serious (and hopefully) reform from the ground up rather than just trying to find new ways to increase taxes and privatise the more profitable parts of the LDB to their party-donors. I also hope that while they take into account the requests of the industry, they bear in mind that the powerful industry lobbyists usually favour no change in the law, protecting their highly profitable status quo.
This is where CAMRA BC comes in. Yesterday a “Phase 1″ letter was sent out to industry groups and stakeholders (I contacted the Attorney General personally to make sure our address was on file) asking for feedback on the liquor review. CAMRA BC are asking that we have a seat at the table when stakeholder discussions take place because we have shown that we are serious about pursuing our goals of sensible liquor reform that would benefit not only you, the consumer, but also the growing craft beer culture, new breweries, pubs and tourism that could potentially provide more jobs and more money for the province. When Phase 2 rolls around in September we will be able involve the BC public and have a clear idea of where the reform is headed.
Representing over 1000 members CAMRA BC – Vancouver Chapter is uniquely placed to negotiate with the provincial government because of our mandate as a non-profit, consumer advocacy group, with no other agenda. No other group at the table can say that.
So here’s where you come in! We’re going to continue to contact MLA John Yap and Attorney General Suzanne Anton and ask them very nicely to talk to us. We’ve been sending them letters (over 300 of them!) from you about Farmers Markets and other changes, then we followed up with the growler tax petition which has over 2000 signatures. Feel free to contact them too, after all this our one chance to really make BC a place that is no longer hysterical about alcohol.
EDIT: listen to Paddy Treavor discuss the issue on CBC.
Adam Chatburn,
President, CAMRA BC – Vancouver Chapter
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