Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority (SLGA) Minister Lori Carr has read part of an email from the new NDP SLGA critic Nathaniel Teed supporting the privatization of government liquor stores. .Carr brought Teed’s email up when defending the government selling the 34 remaining government-owned liquor stores.. Nathaniel Teed NDP .“Mr. Speaker, I have some supportive quotes I’d like to read into the record,” said Carr..“The first quote being, ‘I believe that the Saskatchewan government should phase out running any liquor stores. I honestly believe it’s time to rip the band-aid off.’” .“Second quote, Mr. Speaker: ‘I see the benefits of having private corporations run these stores. These privately run stores are doing an excellent job of servicing the Saskatchewan community.’”.“Quote number three, Mr. Speaker: ‘The SLGA should immediately consider shifting its liquor retail permit structure to mirror that of the cannabis permit policies it holds.’”.“Mr. Speaker, these quotes are from the new member from Saskatoon-Meewasin and the NDP SLGA critic.”.Teed emailed his MLA in November 2021 while he was a private citizen..Teed said he is concerned about the government searching for old emails sent when he was a private citizen..“Privacy is a huge concern … all they could do was dig up old emails, spend the time searching that and then leak that to the media,” said Teed..NDP Leader Carla Beck also brought up the issue of privacy for Teed..“The fact that this private email was distributed is a concern in and of itself,” said Beck.. Carla Beck Oct 27 2022 .Privatizing the liquor stores is the opposite of the NDP’s public position..Teed responded in the media scrum..“Like after so many conversations with people, you realize that these are really important issues for folks, good jobs, good union jobs,” said Teed. .“And so absolutely, I’ve spoken with our leader, Carla Beck. It is our party’s stance that we do not support laying off 350 folks. These stores provide crucial revenue to our province.”.During the media scrum, Carr said that Teed sent the email because he wanted to own a liquor store..“He [Teed] was looking to get into a wine store and have a retail licence himself,” said Carr..A reporter asked Carr if this email was connected to an application..“He just talking generally about wanting to privatize and if that happened, he would have this opportunity,” said Carr..The Western Standard obtained a copy of the email and nowhere does Teed say he wants to own a liquor store.
