Misplaced Pages

Manitoba Liquor Control Commission

Company type	Crown corporation
Industry	Retail (department & discount)
Predecessor	Board of Liquor Control Commissioners
Founded	1923
Defunct	2014
Fate	Merged with Manitoba Lotteries Corporation
Successor	Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation
Headquarters	Winnipeg, Manitoba
Key people	Tannis Mindell, Chair Winston Hodgins, President & CEO
Products	Liquor sales and distribution to both consumers and businesses
Revenue	approx: $284.1 m CAD (2013/2014)
Number of employees	1,200
Corporation overview
Minister responsible	Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act
Key document	The Liquor Control Act, CCSM c L160

The Manitoba Liquor Control Commission (MLCC) was a Crown corporation mandated with regulating, distributing, and selling beverage alcohol in the Canadian province of Manitoba. In 2014, the Manitoba government merged MLCC with the Manitoba Lotteries Corporation to form the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation.

History

Board of Liquor Control Commissioners

What came to be the MLCC was preceded by the three-member Board of Liquor Control Commissioners—established in 1889 under the Liquor License Act, which banned the sale, distribution, or transportation of liquor without a liquor license. Reporting directly to the Attorney General, the Board was in charge of issuing, denying, suspending, and revoking all liquor licenses within Manitoba, as well monitoring compliance with the Liquor License Act. The Board would lose much of its function in 1916 with the passing of the Manitoba Temperance Act, which banned most liquor sales within the province.

Liquor Control Commission

In 1923, the Manitoba Temperance Act was repealed by the Government Liquor Control Act, which permitted the sale of beverage liquor to the general public through government-owned and -operated stores, as well as through licensed vendors. For this, the Act dissolved the Board of Liquor Control Commissioners and formed in its place the Government Liquor Control Commission to act as the sole authority for the sale and distribution of liquor in Manitoba. The new Commission was composed of three Lieutenant-Governor-appointed members and was mandated with implementing and overseeing the provisions of the Government Liquor Control Act (1923, 1928), including the operation of liquor stores, as well as the regulation of liquor sales and use within Manitoba.

In 1957, as part of the new Liquor Control Act (1956), the Government Liquor Control Commission became known as the Liquor Control Commission of Manitoba. The Liquor Control Act modernized liquor sales and regulation; however, the Commission retained its function of controlling Manitoba liquor sales, and reported to the Minister responsible for the Liquor Control Act. The Liquor Control Act empowered the commission to buy, import, and sell liquor; control the possession, sale, and transportation of liquor; and to establish and operate liquor retailers throughout the province of Manitoba.

Beginning in the late 1970s and early 1980s, the commission's role was broadened to include greater emphasis on corporate effectiveness, product quality control, customer relations, workplace quality, and social responsibility. This brought on public campaigns for responsible alcohol consumption, and the implementation of employee development programs, among other things.

In 1980, the commission was renamed the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission.

Merger (2012–14)

In April 2012, the Government of Manitoba announced, through the provincial budget, a plan to merge the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission with Manitoba Lotteries, to form the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation. In September 2012, the province held public consultations in six communities to discuss the merger: Arborg, Thompson, The Pas, Brandon, Winkler, and Winnipeg.

The Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation Act and the Manitoba Liquor and Gaming Control Act came into effect on 1 April 2014, officially beginning the operation of Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation. At the same time, the Liquor and Gaming Authority of Manitoba was created to absorb the regulatory functions of the two former corporations.

Activities

MLCC was headquartered in Winnipeg. At the time of its merger, MLCC employed approximately 1,200 full and part-time workers, all being members of the Manitoba Government Employees Union.

In October 2008, MLCC was named one of "Canada's Top 100 Employers" by Mediacorp Canada Inc., and was featured in Maclean's newsmagazine. Later that month, MLCC was also named one of Manitoba's Top Employers, which was announced by the Winnipeg Free Press newspaper.

At the time of its merger, MLCC had 56 Liquor Mart/Liquor Mart Express locations, 175 Liquor Vendors (partners with the MLCC), and 8 specialty wine stores throughout Manitoba, and its products included a total of 4,341 active product listings as of 2012.

The MLCC's enforcement of liquor controls included inspections of licensed premises, sale permit functions as well as professional shoppers in liquor marts to ensure proof-of-age challenges.

Minister responsible for The Liquor Control Act

The Minister charged with the administration of The Liquor Control Act was a government position in Manitoba responsible for the implementation and maintenance of the former Liquor Control Act, including the responsibility to oversee the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission and the Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries Corporation Rather than a full portfolio, it was always held by ministers with other cabinet responsibilities.

References

1. "Annual Report 2014" (PDF). Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 November 2014. Retrieved 4 November 2014.
2. ^ "Merger surprises employees". Winnipeg Free Press. 19 April 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
3. ^ "Board of Liquor Control Commissioners," Archives of Manitoba.
4. ^ "Government Liquor Control Commission," Archives of Manitoba.
5. The Liquor Control Act, CCSM c L160. Retrieved on 2021-06-14.
6. ^ "Liquor Control Commission of Manitoba," Archives of Manitoba
7. "Who We Are". Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
8. "BUDGET 2012: CROWN CORPORATIONS MERGER MOVES AHEAD WITH NEW BOARD AND PRESIDENT" (PDF). Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. 3 May 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
9. Lett, Dan (18 April 2012). "To merge or not to merge". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
10. Owen, Bruce (7 September 2012). "Province seeks public input on alcohol, gambling". Winnipeg Free Press. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
11. ^ "Province of Manitoba – Province du Manitoba".
12. "Collective Agreement between Liquor Control Commission of Manitoba of the first part and Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union" (PDF). MGEU. 17 February 2010. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
13. "Reasons for Selection, 2009 Canada's Top 100 Employers Competition".
14. "Manitoba Liquor Mart Locations" Archived from the original on 9 February 2012. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
15. "Annual Report 2012" (PDF). Manitoba Liquor Control Commission. Retrieved 22 October 2012.
16. "MLA Biographies – Living". gov.mb.ca. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
17. "MLA Biographies – Deceased". gov.mb.ca. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
18. "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Review Panel Recommends Changes To Liquor Control Act". Province of Manitoba. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
19. "Province of Manitoba | News Releases | Legislation To Address Safety Concerns in Licensed Establishments To Come into Effect 1 Aug.: Swan". Province of Manitoba. Retrieved 15 June 2021.

• Canadian provincial alcohol departments and agencies
• Alcohol in Manitoba
• Defunct companies of Manitoba
• Alcohol distribution retailers of Canada
• Government agencies established in 1923
• 1923 establishments in Manitoba
• Companies disestablished in 2013
• Former Crown corporations of Manitoba
• Defunct companies based in Winnipeg
• 2013 disestablishments in Manitoba