By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
Seven Quebec mayors have joined forces to demand the provincial government halt the planned closure of several SAQ locations, including the branch in Stanstead. Citing economic and social impacts, the municipal leaders are calling for a moratorium on closures until a territorial responsibility policy is established.
The mayors held a virtual press conference on March 20 to express their concerns about the Société des alcools du Québec’s (SAQ) decision to close eight locations across the province. The affected communities include Stanstead, Gatineau, Baie-D’Urfé, Victoriaville, Saguenay, and two boroughs in Montreal. The closures, set to take effect by the end of the 2025–2026 fiscal year, have sparked criticism from local officials, who argue the decision was made without adequate consultation.
SAQ’s rationale
In its March 11 announcement, the SAQ defended its decision as part of an ongoing effort to adapt to shifting consumer habits. The agency cited declining alcohol consumption, demographic changes, and an increasing demand for convenience as factors influencing its retail strategy. According to SAQ President and CEO Jacques Farcy, “To maintain our long-term performance, we have to evolve how we do business, be more in sync with all our customers, those of tomorrow as well as today.”
The SAQ is planning to launch pilot projects to test micro-agency stores in urban areas and expand its delivery services. It has also pledged to open 34 new agency stores in rural areas that lack sufficient demand for a full SAQ store. However, the mayors argue that none of these initiatives address the impact of closures on their communities.
Impact on Stanstead
For Stanstead Mayor Jody Stone, the SAQ’s decision is particularly concerning given the town’s unique location along the U.S. border. “This closure, without an alternative local sales point, risks pushing residents and visitors to shop in neighbouring municipalities or even across the border,” Stone said. With the nearest SAQ more than 35 kilometres away, he warned that the move contradicts efforts to encourage local economic development.
Stone also emphasized the impact on Stanstead’s growing population and tourism sector. “We are seeing an increase in new residents from larger urban centres who are drawn to the relaxed lifestyle and outdoor activities we offer,” he noted. “This decision threatens not only local businesses but the overall economic fabric of our town.”
He stressed that the SAQ, as a provincially run monopoly, should consider its broader economic responsibilities rather than focusing solely on financial performance. “They’re not saying these stores aren’t profitable. They’re just not profitable enough,” he said. “That’s not a valid reason to abandon communities that rely on them.”
Broader economic concerns
Other mayors echoed Stone’s concerns, arguing that the SAQ closures undermine local revitalization efforts. Maude Marquis-Bissonnette, mayor of Gatineau, called the closure of the Promenade du Portage SAQ “a blow to our downtown renewal efforts.” Gatineau has invested more than $16 million in revitalizing its core, including the development of 3,700 new housing units. “We cannot allow the SAQ to contribute to the decline of our commercial arteries,” she said. “Instead, we need them to be part of our recovery.”
Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif pointed out that his town successfully fought off an SAQ closure in the past by demonstrating that upcoming housing projects would boost foot traffic. “The SAQ agreed to a five-year extension, but now we are facing the same battle again,” he said, adding that it is unreasonable for the government to prioritize profitability over regional economic health.
Benoît Dorais, mayor of Montreal’s Sud-Ouest borough, highlighted the significant investments made in commercial streets like Boulevard Monk. “We’ve put millions into revitalizing this area, reducing commercial vacancy from 20 to 5 per cent,” he said. “Now the SAQ wants to leave, despite the fact that their presence supports local businesses, including bring-your-own-wine restaurants.”
Baie-D’Urfé Mayor Heidi Ektvedt noted that her town’s SAQ is part of the only shopping centre serving multiple communities, including students from McGill’s Macdonald Campus and John Abbott College. “People don’t just go to the SAQ,” she said. “They do all their shopping in one trip. Removing this essential service will hurt local merchants and disrupt our commercial ecosystem.”
Call for government intervention
The mayors are urging the Quebec government to impose a moratorium on all SAQ closures until a comprehensive policy on territorial responsibility is in place. “The government of Quebec invests taxpayer dollars to revitalize communities,” said Marquis-Bissonnette. “It makes no sense for one of its own agencies to act in complete contradiction to that goal.”
Stone agreed, emphasizing that the issue is about more than just alcohol sales. “If the SAQ closes in Stanstead, people won’t just drive to Magog or Sherbrooke for wine,” he said. “They’ll do their groceries there, get gas, and spend their money outside our town. That’s a serious hit to our economy.”
The mayors are also questioning the SAQ’s long-term strategy. “Where is the threshold for profitability?” Stone asked. “Will more stores close in the future if they don’t meet an arbitrary target? We need clarity on what their criteria are.”
While the SAQ has announced plans to open micro-agency stores in urban areas and expand delivery options, there is no indication of a plan to replace the locations slated for closure. “We have no guarantee that an alternative sales point will be set up in Stanstead,” Stone said. “For us, this is not just an inconvenience—it’s an economic threat.”
A petition against the closures has been launched on the website of the National Assembly, and local leaders are encouraging residents to sign. The mayors hope that public pressure will prompt the government to intervene before the closures take effect.
“The SAQ must recognize that it has a role beyond simply turning a profit,” Stone said. “It needs to consider the communities it serves.”