BC Liberal Leader, Kevin Falcon, is calling on the provincial government to remove all Russian products from BC Liquor Stores in the wake of current events occurring in Ukraine.
Falcon says the NDP should follow the lead of other Canadian provinces, such as Manitoba, and ban Russian products from being sold in provincial liquor stores, while also ceasing the imports of products by the BC Liquor Distribution Board.
“We should do all we can to support the people of Ukraine and not benefit Putin’s regime while this unprovoked aggression continues,” said BC Liberal Leader Kevin Falcon. “This is a concrete step we can take right now to show our solidarity with the Ukrainian people.”
BC Liquor Stores currently carry five brands of Russian-produced products including Russian Standard Vodka, Beluga Noble Russian Vodka, Russian Standard Platinum Vodka, Baikal Vodka and Baltika 7 Beer.
“I called on Premier Horgan and the NDP to take this action this morning, since then other provincial governments in Ontario and Manitoba have removed Russian products from their liquor stores, this is action we can take right now, I don’t know what the government is waiting for,” added Falcon.
Earlier on Friday, it was announced that the Nova Scotia Liquor Corporation would be pulling Russian products from the shelves, with Manitoba following suit.
At this time, Ontario’s premier Doug Ford has directed the liquor control board to also pull all products from the shelves in his province.
Falcon is calling on the NDP to mimic this move as Russia takes military action against Ukraine.
Graham Cox
