Criticism is mounting as the province moves ahead with more efforts to address the barrage of thefts — at times violent — from provincially owned Liquor Marts.

Dozens of liquor store workers packed the gallery during question period Thursday at the Manitoba Legislature to draw attention to safety concerns they have amid the rash of thefts.

The Manitoba Government and General Employees Union represents those employees, and its president said workers in retail across Manitoba are scared.

"They keep saying please speak up, please keep going, we are very scared," said Michelle Gawronsky.

"Let's sit down and solve this Manitoba crisis once and for all."

Operation Safe Streets

Earlier in the day, the provincial government said it is taking the matter seriously. Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announced Operation Safe Streets Thursday.

The initiative, Cullen says, will bring together police forces, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries security, justice officials and the city and province to come up with solutions.

Justice Minister Cliff Cullen announces the operation tables for dealing with liquor and retail thefts. (Trevor Brine/CBC)

"We are bringing the right people to the table to deal with the offenders to get them off the street and make sure they are effectively prosecuted," Cullen said.

A special prosecutor is now devoted exclusively to prosecuting liquor theft cases, he said.

The plan also includes launching a Crime Stoppers advertising campaign in Winnipeg, Brandon and rural Manitoba, and improving sharing of criminal intelligence among police forces.

Cullen said the initiatives have been in place "for some time" but the liquor store thefts underscored the need to formalize the collaborative effort under the banner of Operation Safe Streets.

About 40 Liquor Mart workers flank MGEU president Michelle Gawronsky Thursday after question period at the legislature. (Bryce Hoye/CBC)

Gawronsky has called on the province to convene a summit that would include input from the retail sector, business, social services, police and the mental health system. Operation Safe Streets, she says, doesn't include many of those players.

"I don't see any piece in there that it is actually talking to the front-line workers."

A separate consultation table to meet with retailers, who are also experiencing a spike in robberies, will be planned soon, Cullen said.

Violent attacks

A two-year surge in liquor thefts and robberies received more attention last week, after an attack at the Tyndall Market store in northwest Winnipeg.

One week ago, Winnipeg police spokesperson Const. Rob Carver told reporters there are at least 10-20 liquor thefts across the city every day, but the number could be closer to 30. He also said hundreds of people have been arrested over the last few months.

Despite that, Cullen has not heard of any prosecutors being overburdened by all of the cases.

Many of the robberies are committed by repeat offenders, he said, and the government will look at the issue of bail being granted over and over, allowing offenders back on the streets.

A 15-year-old boy is charged in connection with the Nov. 20 attacks on three staff members as well as other people in the attached shopping mall at the corner of Burrows Avenue and Keewatin Street.

Three different women were punched in the head or face, including one Liquor Mart employee who was knocked unconscious and rushed to hospital in critical condition. She is now out of hospital and calling for better protection for staff.

Several other people were attacked in the mall, and a woman in a vehicle with her daughter were threatened in an attempted carjacking, police said.

Heightened security

Liquor Marts are in the process of boosting security at the stores.

Customers will be required to provide valid photo identification, which will be scanned at a security station, before being allowed through locked inner doors.

The Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act allows Liquor & Lotteries to collect that personal information for law enforcement purposes or crime prevention, a statement from the province says.

It will be retained for 24 hours and then automatically deleted from the system unless it is otherwise required for law enforcement purposes.

The security changes already have been made at the Tyndall Market store and will be completed over the next weeks and months at other locations, Manitoba Liquor & Lotteries announced on Wednesday.

'Root causes'

During question period, Opposition Leader Wab Kinew called on the government for a more firm timeline. He suggested the province consider paying to have police in all liquor stores across the city in the meantime.

NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine (St. Johns) said the provincial plan is a "Band-aid solution" and requires more than just policing and security.

"We need to address the root causes of crime or this will just continue," Fontaine said, referring to social issues including poverty, housing and mental health.

Pallister said he wouldn't share more details about security plans so as to not give the perpetrators of liquor thefts any ideas.

"Victims of these crimes are not the perpetrators, they're the people who work in our liquor stores," he said.

The NDP, Liberals and province all met with the Liquor Mart workers after question period. MGEU is expected to provide more details Friday about what went on behind closed doors.