Robbins wants NDP to let grocery stores sell liquor

Spruce Woods MLA Colleen Robbins is fighting for less government control over who can sell liquor.

“I honestly don’t think a government should be running a retail store,” Robbins said in an interview with the Sun Wednesday morning.

The province’s newest MLA was assigned to the Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries and military affairs portfolios earlier this month during a shuffle of Progressive Conservative critics.

Noting that small businesses are suffering, Robbins said private retail outlets such as grocery stores should be able to sell alcohol like they do in Saskatchewan and the United States.

“It’s very tough times for small businesses. This extra revenue in their business, or bringing people in — anything extra can always help,” Robbins said.

“When it comes to running a business, a business is best run by individuals that have a stake in it.”

Robbins, who lives in Souris, said she didn’t expect to be given critic portfolios after just being elected less than two months ago in a byelection.

All but one member of the PC party hold critic or house roles. The only member who doesn’t hold a position is Red River North MLA Jeff Wharton, who violated the province’s conflict-of-interest law in 2023 along with former premier Heather Stefanson and former Spruce Woods MLA Cliff Cullen.

Robbins was elected to the legislature in late August after Grant Jackson resigned five months earlier so he could run for federal office.

“I wasn’t even expecting to be a critic this early in the game, but I have learned a lot from being a critic in the short few weeks,” she said.

On the military affairs side, Robbins said she approves of one bill put forward by the NDP that would see a day honouring Indigenous veterans.

“I approve of it totally, and I think it’s great that we are going to recognize them with their own day,” she said of the bill, which has been discussed at committees and will make its way to the legislature.

As a new MLA, Robbins said the attitude of the governing NDP during debates in the legislature has annoyed her.

“I do find the opposition, when asked any questions, it’s never a straight answer, it’s always a joke,” she said.

She called on the premier to do a better job of fighting for the province.

“Manitoba is falling behind because nobody has acted or done anything other than waiting for Ottawa,” she said, noting the ag sector has been hit particularly hard with tariffs.

She pointed to Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, who travelled to China last month to discuss lowering tariffs currently in place.

“We can’t just sit back and wait for someone else to do it for us,” Robbins said. “That’s not what government is. Government is for working for the people.”

She said the NDP has also blasted the PCs about the party’s record while it was in power. That isn’t fair, she said, as the party is a completely different one since the 2023 election.

“It’s a whole new government, basically. There’s so very few (current MLAs) that were in this government before on our team.”

Robbins was supposed to have an open house at her new constituency office on Thursday, but had to cancel it as the furniture for the office didn’t arrive on time.

Her constituency office at Unit 3, 811 18th St. North should be completely open to the public by Monday, she said.

» alambert@brandonsun.com