Mayoral candidate Shone pitches relaxed public park liquor laws

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This article was published 04/08/2022 (1492 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Baljinder Sidhu figures most people know their limits.

That’s why the Winnipegger, who was out for a stroll with friends Thursday afternoon in Assiniboine Park, said she’d be supportive of a mayoral candidate’s proposal for a pilot project allowing the public consumption of alcohol in designated areas of certain city parks.

“If they’re adults, they can consume (alcohol). That shouldn’t be a problem — everybody knows their limits. I don’t think it’s a bad idea,” said Sidhu, 25. “People are going to do it anyway, that’s what I think.”

Rick Shone, a business owner who’s among 14 registered candidates in the crowded 2022 mayoral race, said Thursday, if elected Oct. 26, he would work with the provincial government to amend the Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Control Act.

He said the pilot project would allow public alcohol consumption in signed areas of Assiniboine, Kilodonan, Harbourview, St. Vital and Whitter parks between 11 a.m. and 10 p.m., but away from play structures, splash pads and pools.

“What this does is it allows people to enjoy a beverage in the park if they so choose, and also to demonstrate to society and the rest of Winnipeg that the vast majority of people act responsibly and behave responsibly,” Shone said.

“It’s kind of a symbolic signal that we want to demonstrate more trust toward our citizens.”

Shone’s proposal comes as some major Canadian cities work to relax public liquor laws. Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton now allow some form of booze consumption between 11 a.m. and 9 p.m., in certain designated park areas, following 2021 pilot projects.

Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said he is supportive of relaxing local restrictions around drinking.

“I think we’re probably at the time and place where appropriate, reasonable consumption of alcohol in the parks by the public could be done at this point. We’ve seen the liberalization of rules at events like the fringe festival or the folk festival, for example, where instead of having a tiny, limited licensed area, they’ve now made the entire facilities licensed,” he said.

However, Coun. Sherri Rollins said municipal officials also need to know their limitations.

“There are other jurisdictions that allow (public drinking in certain areas), including in Europe… and I certainly share the spirit of the announcement… but in terms of a reality check, liquor laws are the purview of the Manitoba government,” Rollins said.

The Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry councillor, who chairs the standing policy committee on protection, community services and parks, said Winnipeggers look to park spaces as nature and leisure areas.

“I think it is important that Winnipeggers speak with respect to their priorities for parks and, oftentimes, it’s green space and athletic and cultural pursuits, not necessarily alcohol consumption,” Rollins said.

Even allowing a pilot would be a long process, said a spokeswoman for the provincial Liquor, Gaming and Cannabis Authority.

“Even on a temporary basis, there is no simple way to allow liquor consumption in public places such as a park in Winnipeg,” Lisa Hansen said Thursday in an email. “A legislative amendment is necessary.”

Brock University health sciences Prof. Dan Malleck said the move to allow municipalities to relax liquor consumption laws, as is being done elsewhere in Canada, is reflective of changing societal perceptions.

“People are starting to realize there’s got to be a better balance between the way we use public space and our somewhat outdated views of the dangers of alcohol consumption in general,” said Malleck, an expert in drug and alcohol regulation and prohibition.

Walking in Assiniboine Park with Sidhu, Mantej Singh said he wasn’t so sure about the idea of allowing drinking in such greenspaces.

“I think there are two sides to this one. People want to drink in public, yeah, but then they need to involve more people (to monitor the areas),” the 31-year-old said, adding he thinks the proposal could lead to more underage public drinking without such checks.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca

Twitter: @erik_pindera