A Calgary liquor store is suing the province of Alberta over its slow delivery of alcohol to retail outlets.

Stampede Liquor Company has filed a statement of claim at Court of Queen's Bench.

The owner, Paul Dhillon, says retailers enter into contracts with the Alberta Gaming and Liquor Commission.

Lately the commission has not held up its end of the responsibilities, including timely delivery of orders and communicating with retailers when there are unexpected delays, he said.

'Drastic step'

"It is a very, very drastic step. I thought about it for a long time, but the business has to be business," he said.

Dhillon is seeking $250,000 in damages, including lost sales and overtime costs.

"We pay them their monies as per schedule. If we are delayed in our payments, we are penalized. But when they are delayed on their end of the contract, nobody is there to look after that. That is something which is not right."

The head of the commission Norman Peterson acknowledged the difficulties in delivering alcohol to retail outlets on time. He cites increased demand and a lack of workers with the commission's distributor, Connect Logistics.

The distributor will hire more staff, increase its pay and provide additional warehouse space to provide some short-term relief, he said.