'Even a single incident is one too many'
Liquor store workers in Yukon are facing harassment as the territory takes its shot in the U.S.-Canada trade dispute, according to a report.
Customers have been aggressive toward liquor store staff following the Yukon government’s decision to pull American alcohol products from store shelves, said Sandy Silver, the minister responsible for the Yukon Liquor Corporation.
“Some customers displayed such behaviour because US-made products were still on the shelves, for example during the US administration’s 30-day delay on imposing tariffs, while others did so because US-made products were removed,” Silver said a statement, according to a Yukon News report.
“While incidents of coarse language or intimidating behaviour have varied in frequency since the US tariff dispute began, one incident is too many.”
Silver made the claim in a motion introduced in the Yukon Legislative Assembly on March 18, according to the report.
However, the motion was ruled out of order and was not added to the notice paper, meaning it will not be debated in the legislature.
Allison Lloyd, the deputy clerk for the legislative assembly, claimed that Speaker Jeremy Harper found the motion is not in the correct form and is considered a member's statement, based on a ruling from March 10 that motions shouldn’t be an opportunity for debate, noted Yukon News.
Still, Silver and the liquor corporation are working to protect staff by encouraging reporting of harassment and ensuring a “zero-tolerance approach” to mistreatment.
“Even a single incident is one too many, and we remain committed to closely monitoring the situation to ensure employees feel safe and respected,” Silver said.
