The Nova Scotia Federation of Labour is deeply concerned about the government’s proposed changes to alcohol sales in our province

This is not a good idea, especially at this time, as it could lead to serious problems that we cannot afford to ignore. Firstly, the government generates a significant amount of revenue by selling alcohol through its stores. This money helps fund essential services such as healthcare, education, and public safety. If the government lets private companies sell alcohol, it would be giving away those profits to wealthy corporations.

This means our province would lose money that could improve our quality of life. Taxpayers will have to make up for this lost revenue, and many workers are already struggling with wages that fail to keep pace with the rising cost of living. Secondly, there are serious social issues linked to selling alcohol in more private stores. Making alcohol easier to access can lead to more problems related to drinking. This includes issues like alcohol abuse, drunk driving, and health problems.

We need to consider how this change may impact families and communities across Nova Scotia. The last thing we want is to put more strain on our healthcare system because of alcohol-related issues and reduced funding that could have been used for healthcare. If more private stores are allowed to sell alcohol, the profits might not stay in Nova Scotia. Instead, they could go to companies outside our province. This is not good for our local economy or workers here.

While it’s important to diversify our economy, there are more effective ways to do so. Instead of giving profits from alcohol sales to private companies, we should focus on helping local businesses and creating new job opportunities. This could mean investing in new industries. By doing this, we can create jobs and strengthen our economy without increasing the amount of alcohol in our communities. Lastly, the government did not campaign on this idea and should rethink its plan to allow alcohol sales in more private retail outlets.

This decision could have severe negative consequences for our economy and society. Instead of going backwards, let’s work together to find better solutions that benefit everyone in Nova Scotia. We owe it to our communities and future generations to make the right choice now.