The provincial government is promising and planning to make liquor stores safer.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen and Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton announced today Justice Minister Cliff Cullen and Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton announced today the Manitoba government would continue to collaborate on retail thefts with law enforcement partners, in consultation with Manitoba Liquor Lotteries and other stakeholders through Operation Safe Streets.

Cullen says, "Operation Safe Streets will be another crime-fighting tool as part of our overarching Safer Streets, Safer Lives Action Plan, which takes a whole-of-government approach and recognizes that we can accomplish more when we work together.”

Additional public safety initiatives will include launching a new Crime Stoppers advertising campaign in Winnipeg, Brandon and rural Manitoba including more cash for drug tips, and taking steps to improve the sharing of criminal intelligence between the RCMP and municipal police forces, including joint forces operations, and greater support for tactical enforcement by the Winnipeg Police Service (WPS).

Wharton says, “Our government is committed to a comprehensive whole-of-government approach to addressing theft, reducing violence, and improving mental health and addictions in our province.

“The rate and severity of these brazen thefts and robberies occurring in Winnipeg continue to be incredibly concerning because everyone should feel safe when they go to work.”

Manitoba Liquor Marts has started implementing its own safety measures such as, most recently, transitioning to controlled entrances and all customers will be required to provide valid photo identification before entry into the store is permitted.