March 23, 2021

Treaty 1 Territory, Homeland of the Métis Nation, Winnipeg, MB – Today the Manitoba NDP announced they would delay Bill 40, a bill that would lead to a decrease in public funding for healthcare, education and addictions programming and put the health of communities at risk. Bill 40 opens the door to the further privatization of liquor sales in Manitoba.

“Manitoba families want their kids to be safe and their communities to be healthy,” said NDP Critic for Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Adrien Sala. “But the Pallister government is so bent on privatization that they are willing to put public health at risk. Bill 40 will only make the addictions crisis worse. We’re delaying Bill 40 so we can support public services, keep good jobs in our province, and keep our kids and communities safe.”

Manitoba's public liquor system saves the government money and creates hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue. Experts in public health and addictions say that when liquor sales are driven by a private, for profit lens, outcomes for public health and safety worsen. Currently revenues from liquor sales contribute directly to programs to reduce addiction and invest in treatment.