NP-UN Western Bureau.
The Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission has pulled a Russian vodka called Hammer + Sickle from its shelves after an Alberta minister and his parliamentary secretary wrote a letter to its CEO terming the symbol “offensive to the general public”.
Jean-Marc Prevost, Press Secretary for Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development told New Pathway – Ukrainian News the AGLC responded the day after the letter co-signed by Bilous and his parliamentary secretary, Jessica Littlewood was sent to AGLC CEO Alain Maisonneuve.
“It was a very good turnaround and it was good to see them move so quickly,” he said, adding that they had been giving the government a runaround for six months.
The letter was drafted by the two MLA’s, who consulted on it with the Ukrainian Canadian Congress – Alberta Provincial Council, two days after NP – UN Western Bureau Chief Marco Levytsky raised that as a possible option during a conversation with Littlewood at the Media Launch for the Babas and Borshch Festival at St. John’s Institute, June 19.
Littlewood mentioned the government was having problems with the AGLC because it is an arms-length agency, at which point Levytsky said they could write a letter similar to the one Rod Loyola, MLA for Edmonton-Ellerslie had done when he called upon AGLC to grant a liquor service extension to bars and restaurants during the FIFA World Cup being held in Russia.
In their letter to Maisonneuve, Bilous and Littlewood stated: “We recently learned about a vodka available for purchase in Alberta, which prominently features an image of the Soviet hammer and sickle.
“For us, the image is an abhorrent symbol that represents the genocide of millions.
“We know that the private Alberta liquor market is unique in Canada and that consumer demand drives product selection. However, the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission (AGLC) requires that products and advertising are ‘not offensive to the general public. [Liquor Agency Handbook, Policy 4.1.3].
“On this basis – we request the AGLC reverse their decision to allow the sale of “Hammer + Sickle” vodka”
UCC – APC president Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz told The Edmonton Journal her organization first brought the vodka to the attention of the AGLC early this year.
She added that UCC – APC approached the commission again after Bishop Ken Nowakowski, flying in from B.C., saw the bottle on an airport liquor store shelf in April.
“She was not impressed with AGLC’s response, which was along the lines of — Alberta has private liquor stores, so it’s out of our hands,” reported The Journal.
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