The following message was sent to all Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries employees on Tuesday morning, March 17, 2020:

Good Morning,

As we continue to navigate these unprecedented times, our focus remains on the health and safety of customers and employees. I want to thank every one of you for your strong support, your diligence, and for the great work you have done in spite of the key challenges we face. Your health and well being, and that of our customers, are a primary focus for all of us. As such, we have been diligent in implementing evolving best practices from Manitoba Health and Health Canada.

Our business and work environment continues to change quickly. Today, we are closing Club Regent Casino, McPhillips Station Casino, and the Shark Club Gaming Centre until further notice. This closure is effective at midnight tonight.

Casino employees will continue to be paid to March 31, inclusive for all full-time, part-time, and casual staff for shifts scheduled to be worked during that time. Effective April 1, other options using leave time will be available. Once leaves are exhausted, temporary lay-offs would be implemented. Human Resources will work with casino management and the affected employees.

We will continue to face uncertainty and new challenges. Meetings involving executive management and the Pandemic Planning Committee are held at least twice daily and you can be assured that your concerns and issues are being discussed and addressed constantly. These are unique and evolving circumstances, so we don’t have every answer but we are working on it. Our responses won’t always be perfect, but we are doing everything in our power to prioritize and respond to the most imminent issues. We appreciate your patience and your support.

Thank you again for all that you do and for your valuable contributions to the Liquor & Lotteries team. Stay updated on the messaging from Health Canada and Manitoba Public Health and keep looking to iNET for the most up-to-date information on our business.

Sincerely,

Manny Atwal
President & CEO

Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries