Job action could mean empty shelves at B.C. liquor and cannabis stores by the weekend
In a matter of days, B.C. consumers could begin to see empty shelves at liquor and cannabis stores.
It’s the ripple effect of the B.C. General Employees’ Union’s job action, as they picket outside the province’s liquor distribution warehouses, stopping the flow of inventory since Monday afternoon.
Bohemian Cannabis Co., which has locations in New Westminster and Port Moody, was expecting its weekly shipment Wednesday, but due to the strike, it did not come.
“Receiving the order every week is like very critical for us,” said owner Alex Mazinani. “We have our employee expenses – rent, you know, everything related to the business. And those expenses now are not going to be stopped and basically our revenue is going to be stopped, so it's going to be very difficult time.”
Jeff Guignard with the Alliance of Beverage Licensees said cannabis retailers are especially hit hard since they can only get their products from the province.
“We've just been doing this for three or four years trying to get customers to move from the black market to our stores, and if customers are not able to access products legally, they will go back to the black market, undermining the last four years,” Guignard said.
As for liquor stores, consumers will first start to see dwindling stock of import wines and spirits, Guignard said.
“Your favourite important wines, whether they come from California or Italy, or different spirits, or those are refreshing vodka sodas – Hey Y’alls and NÜTRLs – once the inventory is gone, they’re going to be out of stock until the strike is over,” he explained.
At the start of the pandemic, panic buying was an issue. Ian Tostensen, president of the BC Restaurant & Foodservices Association, said people are beginning to hoard products.
“We're starting to see a little bit of panic buying from consumers and also from restaurants. The big issue here is the uncertainty that industry is left with right now,” he said.
He said consumers can still get B.C.-made products directly from craft breweries, wineries and distillers, so there is no need to panic buy.
The panic is for mom-and-pop restaurants, which may be forced to temporarily close.
“If the warehouses are not open, we're gonna see some restaurants that just frankly would probably have to close because they don't have any products,” he said. “I think the biggest problem right now is just smaller, independent restaurants. You know, they rely on frequent orders. They don't have a lot of room for inventory storage.”
The BCGEU said it will stop job action once the province returns to the bargaining table.
So far, there are no plans to resume talks.
The union represents 33,000 workers, including wildfire fighters, correctional officers, and BC Liquor and Cannabis store employees.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.