No liquor in here
Slips’ liquor licence faced scrutiny when it was learned that Trio Marine did not have lease for the building
The mayor calls it “old news,” but a Penticton activist is cheering confirmation this week that there is no longer a liquor licence in place for Slips restaurant at Skaha Marina.
Nelson Meikle shared with The Herald a one-sentence letter he received April 11 from the B.C. Liquor Control and Licensing Branch that states the licence held by Trio Marine Group “has been cancelled.”
The letter, sent in response to repeated inquiries from Meikle, doesn’t state why or when the LCLB cancelled the licence for Slips, which is currently closed for the season.
A spokesperson for the LCLB declined to provide any details due to a government policy that puts strict limitations on what information can be released to the public during a provincial election period.
Trio Marine Group’s owners did not respond to requests for comment Wednesday.
Meikle called into question the legitimacy of the licence a year ago, when he reported to the LCLB that Trio did not actually have a lease for the restaurant building as required by law, but rather a licence to use from the City of Penticton.
After that error came to light, council in December approved a special two-year lease to help Trio hang onto the licence and avoid the cost of reapplying. It appears that effort was wasted.
Mayor Andrew Jakubeit said in a statement Wednesday he’s unsure when the licence was cancelled, but described it as “old news as (the licence) was for the restaurant that had been in operation in the past.”
“It is my understanding that Trio has submitted their new application for a liquor licence and currently is going through the process,” he added.
Jakubeit noted that while the city “will work with Trio towards compliance,” liquor licences are squarely within the provincial government’s jurisdiction.
Trio’s two-year lease of the marina, where it has pledged to undertake a $1.5-million renovation and increase the numbers of slips from 60 to 100, is expected to be replaced in 2018 with a 29-year deal,
It is my understanding that Trio has submitted their new application for a liquor licence and currently is going through the process. Mayor Andrew Jakubeit
provided the company meets certain benchmarks, such as having marketing plans approved by the city and showing proof of financing.
A separate agreement for Trio to run a concession stand next door in Skaha Lake Park doesn’t take effect until 2018, either.
In the meantime, Meikle is carrying on with lawsuits against the city and Trio that allege the local government failed to comply with provincial legislation related to the lease of public property and that Trio sold booze at its restaurant for two summers without a legitimate licence.
No trial date has been set.