January 5, 1998
(Finance)

Province will not open liquor stores on Sunday

Paul Dicks, Minister of Finance and Minister responsible for the Newfoundland Liquor Corporation, said today that government does not plan to allow liquor stores or agency stores to open on Sunday.

Mr. Dicks made the comment in response to questions arising in the media today.

The question of whether or not the liquor stores or agency stores would open on Sunday has come about as a result of changes to the province's Shops Closing Act. Government is not requiring businesses to open on Sundays, but is merely removing the legislative barriers which previously prohibited this from happening. The former legislation had not proven enforceable in court.

In the case of liquor stores, Mr. Dicks said the competition factor is not an issue, and subsequently government will not allow liquor stores to open on Sunday, or agency stores to sell liquor on that day.

Contact: Karen McCarthy, Director of Communications, (709) 729-0110.