By James Peters

Kamloops Chamber unhappy with Save-On-Foods wine decision

May 31, 2016 | 10:55 AM

KAMLOOPS — The Kamloops Chamber of Commerce membership has spoken loud and clear on the issue of wine sales at the Summit Drive Save-On Foods location.

Earlier this month, Kamloops council denied a variance that would have allowed the grocery store to sell BC wine on its shelves.

The chamber polled its membership, and out of 200 respondents, 90 per cent said they disagreed with the decision.

Chamber President Ryan Scorgie says the chamber sees it as unfair to one sector of the economy.

Boogie The Bridge

Boogie The Bridge Event Information

12h ago

Two and Out

PETERS: The Loop's eviction will show us what happens when a bandage is ripped off a gaping wound

9h ago

One Man's Opinion

COLLINS: 'Fairness' is not a word I would use to describe the federal budget

15h ago

“Once you start restricting how businesses operate, and the regulations that municipal governments place on them, it can spread into more than one industry. If you have a deli, and someone is going to open up a meat shop next door, we don’t see restrictions that way currently with any government legislation,” said Scorgie.

Scorgie adds the chamber will wait to see whether council acts to reverse its decision, and if it doesn’t, the chamber will discuss ramping up its lobbying effort.

“If we don’t see any movement, or revisions, or review on this type of decision we certainly will be looking at a strategy we want to take at the chamber, and voicing the concerns the business membership has with the city’s decision.” 

“We’ve always taken the position that the council has been looking at the provincial regulations from a municipal aspect, which we thought wasn’t necessarily appropriate. I think our membership is supporting our views of that, when we had the response from this kind of poll,” said Scorgie.