It is only the existence of an absurd status quo lingering from another century that allows silly arguments in favour of government\u002Drun liquor stores to be…
That “in retrospect,” implying that some special insight was required to prospectively imagine there would be controversy over Thatcher’s attendance, appeals to my taste for morbid humour and/or pratfalls; it might be the funniest thing I have heard all week. But it meant that the newsworthy contents of the throne speech, if there were any, were almost certain to be overlooked outside Saskatchewan.
One assumes it will be: the virtually unlimited selection of booze available under Alberta’s system is a product of having a free and responsive retail market instead of a government list of approved products and accompanying occasional shortages. It might be the most easily demonstrable objective benefit Albertans get from having such a market, although letting capitalism decide where stores can exist is pretty awesome for consumers too, particularly those outside the biggest cities.
Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe was quoted as saying that retailing liquor is not part of the “core business of government.” This obviously correct assertion is essentially what Alberta’s government decided a generation ago. Other provinces have since permitted private retailing in one form or another, but until now, they have all held onto government-owned stores.