The fight against NB Liquor’s decision to grant a Moncton company an agency store in the Fredericton area has taken another turn.
Last week, Fredericton business owner Chris Scholten filed a request for a judicial review of the decision. Now, a second request for a judicial is being made, this time from a group of concerned citizens.
“How they arrived at that decision, to give it to a firm from Moncton, rather than the local established business in our community,” says George Dignam, a member of the Concerned Citizens of Hanwell group.
NB Liquor received three applications for the agency store in Hanwell, N.B. but awarded the outlet to a Moncton company that will build a store in the community, and dismissed bids from two established local businesses.
Dignam says his group has asked NB Liquor to explain how it came to the decision, but has yet to receive any answers.
“They just ignore us,” says Dignam. “For some reason or other, we've run in to a stone wall and we think that the only way they're going to answer anything that we have to ask them is through the inquiry."
Scholten’s customers are also upset by NB Liquor’s decision to award the agency store to a Moncton company.
“Well, I feel if they want the licence here, they should get it here instead of giving it to the first one who comes out of Moncton,” says Harvey resident Doug Perrin. “I think we should keep it in our own area.”
“I’d like to see our own community keep things in our own community,” says Hanwell resident Helene Johnson.
NB Liquor is not commenting the issue because the matter is now potentially before the court.
There is no indication when, or if, either request for review will be heard.
With files from CTV Atlantic's Andy Campbell
