It’s a raging debate: Should the government sell off the Newfoundland and Labrador Liquor Corporation?

Government has hired a consultant to take a look at the numbers and give recommendations.

One thing the consultant will determine is a selling price – a complex issue, as it depends on many things.

For instance, do you sell it all as a block or dispose of the asset by individual store?

The corporation is going to deliver a dividend to taxpayers of $210-million this year, a record.

Larry Short, a senior investment advisor at Short Financial with IA Private Wealth in St. John’s, says there could still be a significant return to government, even through privatization with millions in corporate taxes.

Using $2-billion as a possible selling price and putting the entire amount down on the debt, that could mean $60-million a year in interest savings.

Going that route would send a message to our lenders that we are serious about the debt.

That unto itself could have a positive impact on the entire debt, through lower borrowing costs.