Report: when booze flows free, revenue follows

A C.D. Howe Institute report is recommending that Ontario uncork some competition for the sale of beer and wine in the province.

The lack of competition in Ontario’s system for alcoholic beverage retailing causes higher prices for consumers and foregone government revenue, according to the report, entitled “Uncorking a Strange Brew: The Need for More Competition in Ontario’s Alcoholic Beverage Retailing System,” authored by Paul R. Masson and Waterloo professor Anindya Sen.

The report calls for a more competitive system in alcoholic beverage retailing in Ontario, which would result in increased government revenue, lower prices, and more convenience for consumers.

“Ontario’s system of alcoholic beverage retailing is a holdover of the temperance movement in the 1920s,” state the authors. “As a result, Ontario consumers have restricted choice in where they can buy their alcoholic beverages, and they pay higher prices for beer compared to customers shopping in Quebec grocery stores.” 

The current Ontario system suffers from various inefficiencies and disadvantages for purchasers of alcoholic beverages. The report details how the government-created quasi-monopolies for wine and beer retailing impose excessive costs on consumers and restaurants, restrict their menu of choices, and limit the accessibility of stores retailing alcohol. Masson and Sen add that “this also imposes a distortion on small domestic breweries and wineries, putting them at a competitive disadvantage relative to a few large Canadian and foreign producers.”

Masson and Sen rebut defenders of the status quo who argue that increased competition would lead to lower government revenues. Based on the experience of western provinces, they argue that increased competition can lead to higher government profits from alcohol sales. Among the policy recommendations they propose:

• Allowing grocery and convenience stores to sell beer and wine;
• Opening up the right to operate off-winery stores; and
• Further expanding beer retailing by licensing other retail outlets.

The authors conclude that these changes would increase the choices available, and reduce prices, for Ontario consumers.

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Staff dispute resolution pool seeks members

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) Nominating Committee is seeking applications for staff representation on the Dispute Resolution for University Support Staff pool. There are two positions available for a term beginning October 1, 2014 and running to April 30, 2017.

“When a Dispute Resolution is requested under Policy 36 (Dispute Resolution for University Support Staff) three members will be drawn from the pool to form a tribunal,” says the note from the UWSA. “Policy 36 governs the pool and sets out the procedures that are to be followed. The time commitment for the pool is difficult to define as pool members are asked to serve on a tribunal when the need arises. As this is a university level committee, release time for committee training and responsibilities will be granted.”

The Dispute Resolution for University Support Staff consists of six staff members nominated by the UWSA Nominating Committee along with six staff members nominated by the Vice-President, Academic & Provost.  Please direct any questions to Gail Spencer, UWSA Executive Manager (x38668).

To apply for a position, submit an online application or print the form and fill it out and send/scan to the chair of UWSA Nominating Committee, Gail Spencer, via email or by campus mail to DC 3609 by Wednesday, September 10.

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Feds make the Co-op Connection

In an effort to help students maintain their connection to one another while on co-op terms in new cities, the Federation of Students has launched a new service, the Co-op Connection.

The mission of the Co-op Connection service is "to connect students on co-op work terms in the same cities by providing social programming, peer support and information from the Federation of Students in order to enhance communication and advocate for the needs of co-op students."

“The service will offer great recreational programming for co-op students to take their minds off work and enjoy what their city has to offer,” says Tony Tang, a second year Computing Financial Management student and Co-op Connection coordinator in a statement on the federation's website. “Students have an opportunity to meet other co-ops in their city as well as alumni and industry professionals. It's a chance to make new friends and network.”

The service will have mentors set up initially in four cities - Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Ottawa. These mentors will help the students organize events and manage the Facebook pages for each city. Co-op Connection will also have a Twitter account to share events, contests, and promotions.

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Remembering Ruth Hawes and other notes

Recent retiree Ruth Hawes died August 18. Hawes began her employment at the University from May 1971 to July 1973 in the Library and again from August 1976 until her retirement in February 2013, first in the Registrar's Office, Personnel, and then as a student advisor in Co-operative Education and Career Action, where she spent 28 years. In all, she spent 37 years with the University.

A visitation will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. on Friday, August 22 at the Henry Walser Funeral Home on Frederick Street in Kitchener. A memorial service will be held in the chapel of the funeral home immediately following the visitation, at 1:00 p.m. with a reception to follow.

She was predeceased by her husband, Victor.

Here's a note from Science: “The Science Undergrad Office (ESC 253) will close at noon on Thursday, August 21, due to staff training, and will reopen on Friday, August 22, at 8:30am. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause. Check the Science current undergraduate students page for our regular hours.”

The Waterloo Warriors kicked off their 2014 training camps (pardon the punt - I mean pun) on Monday of this week at Warrior Field. Camps will be held until Saturday, August 30, with most days featuring two sessions from 9:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. and from 3:15 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., and scrimmages on Sunday, August 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and on Saturday, August 30 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

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