The corporate-owned stores in St. George and Bristol will be replaced with privately owned agency stores.
Charlotte-The Isles MLA Rick Doucet says the net gain by opening the agency store would be minimal. He says the jobs would be amalgamated with another location so therefor you wouldn't see any net gain in jobs. As well, residents will be left with about an eighth of the selection of booze available now.
Doucet adds this is another slap in the face to rural New Brunswick, with the government basically saying "Go move out west where there are more jobs."
NB Liquor president Daniel Allain says the stores are no longer efficient, each are more than 50 years old, and staff will be moved to other locations.
In total, Doucet says 7 local jobs will be taken by the closure.
