The British Columbia Liquor Control and Licensing Branch (LCLB) has hired a new general manger, Doug Scott, who will start his new job on September 23, the LCLB confirmed to Business in Vancouver September 13.
The agency, which interprets liquor regulations and has inspectors to enforce regulations, has yet to put out a press release.
"For the past two years he was assistant deputy minister of the gaming policy and enforcement branch," said LCLB spokeswoman Cindy Stephenson. "He's not actually here yet."
Scott replaces Karen Ayers who retired at the end of June after assuming the general manager position in May 2006.
Prior to joining the B.C. government's gaming policy and enforcement branch, Scott had a 20-year career in the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). He has a masters degree in public administration from Harvard University and an MBA from Queen's University.
Wine sector lawyer Mark Hicken, who advocates for several legal and regulatory changes related to alcohol, obtained an internal LCLB email that outlined Scott's hiring.
"I'm encouraged by the announcement because the email focused on the fact that he is skilled in change management and implementing a new approach," Hicken said. "That's what industry has been looking for."
Scott's appointment comes as the B.C. government is consulting with industry insiders and the public on how to "modernize" B.C.'s liquor laws.
In June, when Premier Christy Clark appointed John Yap as a parliamentary secretary to attorney general Suzanne Anton, Clark wrote a letter outlining Yap's mandate as being to "lead the stakeholder consultation on modernizing B.C.'s antiquated liquor laws and recommend improvements to the minister to take to cabinet."
Yap is expected to launch tomorrow (September 14) a new website for public input into his government's liquor policy review.
