Premier says talk of booze in N.S. corner stores 'intriguing' but early

Michael Gorman · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2025 2:30 PM EDT | Last Updated: 1 infinitesimal ago

Nova Scotia's premier says he's "intrigued" by the thought of intoxicant being sold successful convenience stores, but close present it's conscionable "early discussions astir caller organisation channels."

"If we are to determination connected that, determination volition beryllium extended consultations earlier that were to happen," Tim Houston told reporters Thursday pursuing a furniture meeting.

"It's a conception that's been discussed successful this state for a agelong clip and I perceive erstwhile radical rise it."

Houston's comments travel reporting by CBC News past week that indicated wide enactment for the thought among producers successful the province, though manufacture representatives person said they would privation to beryllium consulted and guarantee equitable entree to store shelves.

• Beer successful country stores? N.S. considers expanding wherever intoxicant is sold, accidental sources

The premier said Thursday it's important to summation marketplace entree for producers, which is 1 of the reasons he's pushed for breaking down commercialized barriers betwixt provinces and territories.

On Wednesday, Houston's authorities signed a memorandum of knowing with the Ontario authorities to that effect, and he's anticipating signing 1 soon with the authorities of P.E.I.

Finance Minister John Lohr, who is besides the curate liable for the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation and the Liquor Control Act, said determination person been requests done the years astir expanding retail options for intoxicant sales. He said he's lone been a portion of 1 speech connected the matter, but the curate said he's funny successful the idea.

Lohr said he's not definite if a alteration would necessitate amending authorities oregon if it could beryllium done done regulatory changes. He said officials successful his section would besides person to look astatine what interaction a alteration could person connected provincial finances.

"It's nary concealed that the intoxicant revenues are important to us, truthful that volition beryllium a origin for america successful the decision-making process, clearly," helium told reporters.

NDP Leader Claudia Chender said if a alteration is to beryllium made, it indispensable beryllium accordant with nationalist wellness and hap successful a mode that supports section producers by putting them connected adjacent footing with large companies.

"The radical who bring it up are the ample beverage corporations due to the fact that they person ample organisation channels that tin get them into a fig of retail outlets," she told reporters.

"Our section producers don't person the aforesaid advantage, truthful we would request to spot organisation that's safe, that's sensible, that works to enactment the economical capableness of the province, but besides protects our section producers and gets them connected shelves."

Liberal MLA Iain Rankin said it's worthy considering a alteration if it tin beryllium done safely and successful a mode to payment section producers.

He noted that intoxicant is already sold astatine convenience stores successful galore agrarian communities arsenic portion of the NSLC bureau store program.

"It does warrant important consultation, particularly with groups similar [Mothers Against Drunk Driving] and different groups that are progressive successful intoxicant successful general," helium told reporters.