SAQ

Baie-D’Urfé Mayor leads coalition against SAQ closures

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By Chelsey St-Pierre
The Suburban

In a bold stance against the provincial liquor corporation’s recent decisions, Baie-D’Urfé Mayor Heidi Ektvedt has joined forces with six other Quebec mayors to demand immediate government intervention in the wake of announced SAQ store closures.

“The closure of a SAQ outlet without any prior consultation with local stakeholders is unworthy of a crown corporation,” Ektvedt stated at a joint press conference. According to municipal sources, the sudden announcement of the Baie D’Urfé SAQ closure has sent shock waves through the local business community, with concerns mounting about the impact on neighbouring establishments.

The controversy comes as the SAQ moves forward with its restructuring plan, which includes shutting several locations while opening 34 boutique locations in supermarkets. For Baie-D’Urfé’s business district, the closure represents more than just the loss of a liquor store, it’s seen as a direct threat to the area’s commercial vitality.

“This hurts,” Ektvedt emphasized, addressing the gathered media. The mayor’s concerns reflect a broader anxiety about the erosion of local commercial infrastructure and its potential domino effect on surrounding businesses.

The coalition of mayors is calling for two immediate actions: the cancellation of recently announced closures and the implementation of a moratorium on future SAQ outlet closures until a comprehensive territorial responsibility policy can be established.

At the March 21 press conference at Baie-D’Urfé town hall, Mayor Heidi Ektvedt was joined by Montreal Sud-Ouest Borough Mayor Benoit Dorais and Stanstead Mayor Jody Stone. The coalition they lead also includes Quebec City Mayor Bruno Marchand, Gatineau Mayor France Bélisle, Saguenay Mayor Julie Dufour, and Victoriaville Mayor Antoine Tardif. These seven municipal leaders represent communities across Quebec facing SAQ closures, with Ektvedt emerging as the coalition’s primary spokesperson in their fight against the crown corporation’s restructuring plans.

The mayors argue that the SAQ’s position as a monopoly holder in alcohol distribution comes with special responsibilities to Quebec’s communities. Their concern is particularly acute given that many municipalities are currently investing significant resources in revitalizing their commercial districts. In response to these developments, a petition has been launched online, allowing residents of the affected communities to voice their support for the mayors’ demands. Local business owners and residents are encouraged to sign the petition and make their voices heard on this crucial issue affecting the community’s future.

For Baie-D’Urfé residents, the next nearest SAQ location would require significant travel, potentially driving business away from the local commercial sector. This situation has prompted Mayor Ektvedt and her colleagues to demand that the provincial government recognize its responsibility in maintaining the vitality of local communities through its crown corporations. n

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“Margins are too slim to absorb tariffs!”

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , ,

By Beryl Wajsman, and Dan Laxer The Suburban

Despite the tariff reprieve until March 1,The Suburban decided to get a sense of how the Montreal business community could be affected at the local level.

While it was all well and good for politicians to react at the macro level — including the now delayed threat to pull American products off SAQ shelves — and the general provincial and federal statements about financial support, the picture on main street is troubling indeed.

When Finance Minister Eric Girard – also Minister Responsible for Relations with English-Speaking Quebeckers – said that there will be measures to ensure that. “We will protect our economy, our business, and our citizens,” he, like his counterparts, had few specifics. In part because since Canada had never faced such a serious trade threat, few could calculate the full ramifications.

Bold statements are necessary to give Canadians courage, but they do not address the specific damaging effects on individuals and companies. The tariffs would be an existential threat to lives and livelihoods.

Elliot Lifson, President of the Canadian Apparel Federation and Vice-Chairman of Montreal’s Peerless Clothing- Canada’s largest menswear manufacturer with a massive export component — had this to say to The Suburban. “The margins in this industry — one of Canada’s largest — are too slim to absorb the tariffs. if there is no permanent resolution, our focus will be on protecting the jobs and livelihoods of our workers. And to do that this industry will need help from all three levels of government.” Peerless has some 4,000 workers at its east end facility in Montreal.

The Suburban also contacted several transport companies. Many of their executives were not available for comment and at least one did not want to comment. However, Lachine-based Prince Logistic Services dispatcher Emilio Fiore pointed out that, “our biggest fear is that markets slow down, less product goes to the U.S., less product comes in and definitely it would impact the transport industry.”

We also contacted executives in heavy industry and tech sectors. Though none wanted to speak for attribution, one common thread was that they are trying to reach their American clients and see whether a mutual absorption of tariffs was possible. None had yet concluded any arrangements.

~ with files

from Joel Goldenberg n

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Brennan’s Hill Beer Bust

Local Journalism Initiative / / / , , , , , , ,

By Trevor Greenway
Local Journalism Initiative

Claude Cousineau says he did nothing wrong when he purchased beer and wine from  Marché Gravelle and sold it to customers at his Brennan’s Hill depanneur. 

But when Sûreté du Québec (SQ) cops busted into his shop Feb. 25 and seized over 5,000 litres of beer and nearly 60 litres of wine – effectively clearing out the beer fridges at Epicerie Brennan’s Hill – he surmised that something was wrong. 

“It was four cops who showed up here, armed to the teeth, and they threw everybody out of the store, and they turned off the cameras, which you’re not supposed to do. And they made me open the safe, which has nothing to do with anything,” said Cousineau, owner of the depanneur. “So then they blocked the driveways to make a big scene, took all the beer and all the wine – it took them all day.”

Store manager Jeri Guertin was working the front cash that day and said the scene was intense when police arrived. 

“They kicked everyone out of the store, they kept telling Claude to keep his hands out of his pockets,” said Guertin. 

Cousineau has not been charged or fined, was not detained, nor has he been told if he needs to hire a lawyer, fight the infractions in court or whether or not he will get his booze back. He said he isn’t counting on it. 

“We have big plans, and now I’m stuck because now my money is fu**ed for sure, right?” Cousineau told the Low Down, standing next to two, large beer coolers that are empty. Not a single case of beer can be found among the refrigerators. “That’s 25 grand worth of beer. Maybe more,” added Cousineau. The dep wine racks are also vacant. 

According to SQ spokesperson Sgt. Marc Tessier, the file is not criminal, and Cousineau can’t be criminally charged with a crime – he can only be fined. The province’s Act respecting the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) states that any person in Quebec wishing to sell beer and wine from their grocery stores or depanneurs must first have a permit to do so – and must purchase all of their alcohol – with the exception of light cider, beer bottled in Quebec or imported beer – through the SAQ. 

“The person at the store bought some beer from another store without the proper authority or channel to buy his liquor,” said Tessier. “Police will conclude their investigation and will proceed to submit that to the Crown, and they will determine if there will be penal action or not.”

When asked how police knew that Cousineau was selling alcohol not purchased through the SAQ, Tessier confirmed that it was through information from the public as well as the SQ’s “investigative techniques.”

Cousineau told the Low Down that his troubles began the day he took over ownership of the store, back in July 2024, when he was having issues with some of the beer and wine reps who were “leaving beer all over the place,” crowding his aisles and packing his leaky fridges. He was in the middle of planning renovations to hold more stock but said the reps – both alcohol and soda representatives – just kept showing up with more beer and pop. 

“It was beer galore,” added Cousineau. “There was beer all over the place. I had to take three shelves of food down just for all the beer.” He said some of the stock – mostly flavoured coolers – in his fridge were nearly two years old and close to expiration, and he didn’t want to waste prime real estate for unpopular products. So he began telling the reps what he wanted – and what he didn’t want – to sell in his store. 

Cousineau said that he was told by one of the beer reps that if he wanted specific types of beer and a custom lineup of spirits, he would have to source all of his own alcohol, purchase it himself, pick it up, drive it back to the store, stock it and then sell it. He said the rep told him to buy from Marché Gravelle, a food and beverage distribution centre in Gatineau.

Trusting this advice, he said he did just that and began buying his beer and wine from Marché Gravelle and said he’s been doing so since last summer. 

“I still feel like I did nothing wrong,” said Cousineau. “We checked, and we’re allowed to buy from a distributor as long as I am licenced, so what am I doing wrong? There’s so many people making money off your dollar, and we’re making quarters before the government comes in and takes more.”

Cousineau said that police were over-aggressive and treated him as a threat in his own store. He said it was “like watching an old cowboy movie.”

“I honestly thought they were here fundraising,” said Cousineau. “So I had my hands in my pockets and I said, ‘What’s up?’ and they started yelling to me to take my hands out of my pockets. I said, ‘I don’t know you. You come in here, you have armour, you have a billy bat, you have a gun, you have a taser and pepper spray, and you’re acting like I’m dangerous.’” Cousineau’s beer cooler and wine racks are still empty, and he said he’s been left in the dark on what will happen next. He’s still allowed to sell beer, but with all of his money tied up in the seized alcohol, he’s not sure how long it will take him to rebuild his stock. 

Tessier said Cousineau could face a fine, but added that police are still investigating the file. 

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