The Liquor Control Commission of Manitoba was established in 1923 to control the sale of alcoholic beverages in Manitoba. The Liquor Control Actempowered the Commission to buy, import and sell liquor; control the possession, sale and transportation of liquor; and to establish liquor outlets throughout the province of Manitoba.
Activities
At the time of its merger, MLCC employed approximately 1,200 full and part-time workers. Workers at the MLCC are 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. It is headquartered in Winnipeg and has 51 Liquor Marts, 175 Liquor Vendors, and eight specialty wine stores throughout Manitoba. The MLCC's products include a total of 4,341 active product listings as of 2012. The MLCC's enforcement of liquor controls includes inspections of licensed premises, sale permit functions as well as professional shoppers in liquor marts to ensure proof-of-age challenges.
Jets Tickets Controversy
In 2012, 444 Winnipeg Jets tickets were received by the MLCC in exchange for $250,000 a year it spends to advertise at games. Of these, four tickets went to the office of the minister responsible for MLCC, 66 went to the board, 188 went to head office staff, 108 to store managers, 62 to MLCC executives, eight to the MLCC social club, and four to charity. MLCC negotiated 10 seats for every Jets home game of the year. Eight seats were Section 100 seats in the lower bowl, which can cost up to $199 and are the most expensive seats available. Two seats were in the upper bowl. MLCC board members used all 10 seats during the home opener game. The $250,000 of advertising money would otherwise have gone to the provincial government. A result of the controversy, Crown Corporations Council drafted a policy to prevent top officials from receiving free tickets to sports events.
Merger
The 2012 Provincial budget announced 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 merger was completed in 2013.
