Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard has asked the province’s government-run liquor board (SAQ) to remove all Russian products from it’s shelves in response to Russia’s act of war.
Girard said Friday evening the move was an act of solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
Earlier in the day, Parti Québécois Leader Paul St-Pierre Plamondon demanded that the Société des alcools du Québec (SAQ) and other government-run corporations boycott Russian products.
“We have to send a strong signal,” St-Pierre Plamondon wrote in a tweet.
Prior to the announcement, a spokesperson for the SAQ indicated there were no plans to pull products from shelves.
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“It is not the role of the SAQ to engage in politics,” said Yann Langlais-Plante. “That being said, we are sensitive to the concerns of all those who are impacted by this conflict here and elsewhere.”
Langlais-Plante said the corporation was carrying about 10 Russian products, but that the SAQ would comply with any government directives asking they be removed.
By Friday evening, the SAQ confirmed it would be withdrawing Russian imports from its stores.
Quebec is following in the footsteps of several other provinces in removing Russian liquor from store shelves including Ontario, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Manitoba.
During a press conference Friday afternoon, Premier François Legault said Quebec was looking at imposing economic sanctions on Russia and its president Vladimir Putin, including the possibility of ceasing imports of Russian vodka products.
Legault, however, stressed such measures would have limited impact since trade between Quebec and Russia only amounts to approximately $200 million per year.
A more impactful solution, he said, would be for European nations to find ways to cease imports of oil and gas products, for which Russia is the largest supplier.
He reiterated his commitment to welcoming Ukrainian refugees and said discussions with federal counterparts were ongoing and that an announcement on financial aid for Ukraine was forthcoming.
In a show of support and solidarity, the premier asked for the Ukrainian flag to be hoisted outside the National Assembly, where it will remain until Sunday evening.
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