An LCBO strike, and Ontario's long, strange history of booze policy
Jul 9, 2024
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Ontario's historic booze policies clash with government plans to expand liquor sales to corner stores, sparking a strike. Premier Ford triggers debate on convenience in alcohol retail. LCBO workers rally against potential job losses as the province navigates through a long-standing battle over drink regulations.
Government's plan to expand alcohol sales to convenience stores threatens LCBO jobs and revenue.
Ontario's history of alcohol policy highlights conflict between government convenience push and LCBO control.
Deep dives
Ontario's History with Liquor and Current LCBO Workers' Strike
Ontario has a long history with liquor, with the government making billions from it through the LCBO. The current strike by LCBO workers, the first in Ontario, is due to the government's plan to allow alcohol sales in convenience stores and gas stations, potentially costing jobs and threatening the existence of the LCBO. This move contrasts with the exclusive government control over liquor distribution through the LCBO and raises concerns about job security and revenue loss.
Implications of Expanding Alcohol Sales in Ontario
The government's plan to expand alcohol sales to various retail outlets in Ontario, beyond the LCBO, could significantly impact the province's liquor revenue and distribution model. The proposal to allow liquor sales in corner stores and gas stations may reduce the government's profit margin from around 33% to about 10%, potentially leading to a substantial decrease in the 2 to 2.5 billion annual revenue currently generated by the LCBO.
Impact of LCBO Workers' Strike and Future Scenarios
The ongoing strike by LCBO workers has disrupted liquor sales in Ontario, prompting alternative measures like online orders and limited reopening of stores for wholesale customers. The uncertainty surrounding the strike's duration and the government's persistence in liberalizing alcohol sales indicate a potential long-term conflict between the union, concerned about job security, and the government's push for convenience and expanded alcohol access.
Ontario's liquor distribution workers are on strike for the first time in their history. The reason? The government's plan to open up places like corner stores for beer, wine and mixed cooler sales. It's the latest chapter in a strange history of alcohol policy in the province that dates back to prohibition.
The LCBO brings in billions in revenue each year for the government, but Premier Doug Ford has long pushed for more convenience in alcohol retail. Meanwhile, the rest of the country wonders why the province needed to pay hundreds of millions of dollars just to make beer in corner stores possible. Today, a look inside this fight, and many others Ontario has had over drink, over the years.
GUEST: Richard Southern, Queen's Park reporter, CityNews
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