The appeal hearing for Calvary Baptist Church to the Planning and Development Appeal Board will be heard on Jan. 14. The church is appealing a decision by Weyburn city council to approve the location of the Liquor Spot liquor store next door to their building at 16th Street and First Avenue NE.
The development permit for the store was approved, with a 5-2 vote, in spite of opposition by three adjacent churches and the Weyburn Co-operative Playschool, along with residents from the nearby neighbourhood.
Outlining some of the points of concern he has for this development, Pastor Tim MacKinnon of Calvary Baptist pointed out that according to various sources, Saskatchewan has one of the highest rates of drinking and driving in the country.
There is also concern that there could be an increase in crime activity in neighborhoods directly around liquor stores, he said. According to the Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction, there is an increase in domestic violence and more long- term costs to the government in neighborhoods with liquor stores (2020).
In 2014 Saskatchewan received revenue of $391 million from liquor stores, but lost $563 million in alcohol harm-related costs, according to the Canadian Institute of Substance Use Research in 2019.
Part of MacKinnon’s concern is that Saskatchewan has among the highest rates of suicide in the nation, and there is a link between the presence of liquor stores and suicide, especially with teens.
He also pointed out that when parents are seeking a place for their children to attend a playschool, safety and the environment around the playschool are of top concern.
“Tell me, why again are we having to go through with an appeal process when the City of Weyburn should be considerate of such impacting dynamics?” asked MacKinnon.
He noted that residents can still send letters of support to [email protected] or mail to Calvary Baptist Community Church, 1619 1st Ave NE, Weyburn, SK S4H3E7.
