The labour dispute between Manitoba Liquor and Lottery employees and the provincial government is putting private liquor vendors in a tough spot. 

Corey Chornoboy is an owner of the Sarto General Store. He notes they are still open and selling liquor, but the shelves are emptying out. 

“Definite stock shortages, we have no deliveries coming from the MBLL delivery warehouse. So, now we're just out of stock, that's the big thing.” 

Chornoboy says they are sold out of approximately 40 percent of their liquor products. 

For the most part, he says people have been understanding but there is some frustration, especially from people who have planned large events. 

“We can't get what they want. We can't fill their orders and they have a wedding that they spent $30,000 on and they can't get the wine that they want. From that we're hearing a little frustration, but the workers just have to tell the story, it's not our fault.” 

With most MLCCs in the province currently closed, Chornoboy says many people are driving from Steinbach and the surrounding area to buy from their dwindling stock. They appreciate the added business but can’t keep up. 

He notes he doesn't see this problem ending anytime soon. 

“Once they do resolve it, the government's going to fill all their stores first and they're not going to fill us rural vendors, but that's not fair because we're the ones that are carrying all the weight right now. We're understaffed, overworked. I feel like that's going to be a bigger issue. Even if they agreed on a settlement tomorrow, are we going to get restocked properly right away? I don't know.” 

Chornoboy says 65 percent of their store must be non-alcohol related and the government argues this means their store should be viable even during a strike but, in reality, he notes liquor sales are incredibly important to their business and this strike is really painful. He adds they feel helpless in this situation. 

“Us liquor vendors, we haven't had an increase in like 7 years on the percentage that we make on alcohol. I know they're striking asking for more money there, the government workers, but we work for the government too, and they haven't given us anything in seven years. But we can't go on strike because they'll just say, 'we have liquor stores, we just won't give you alcohol, go on strike', we're stuck.” 

Chornoboy notes they are hoping this labour dispute is resolved quickly for everyone’s sake. 

There are also private liquor vendors in La Broquerie, Ste. Anne, Landmark, St. Pierre, and Niverville. 

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