Ontario Premier Doug Ford carries a case of beer during a photo-op at the Cool Beer Brewing Company in Toronto, on July 10.Cole Burston/The Canadian Press
Ontario Premier Doug Ford says he believes a deal can be reached between the Liquor Control Board of Ontario and striking workers, but he will not revisit his government’s plan to expand pre-mixed drinks into corner stores.
The union has demanded that the government back down on its plan to allow ready-to-drink cocktails, such as coolers, to be sold in convenience stores. Mr. Ford, taking questions about the six-day-old strike for the first time, said that will not happen.
“It’s done. It’s gone. That ship has sailed, it’s halfway across Lake Ontario,” Mr. Ford told reporters at Cool Beer Brewing Company in west Toronto.
Mr. Ford said the LCBO will continue to sell pre-mixed drinks once the expansion takes place and will remain the exclusive retailer of spirits such as vodka and gin.
“I’m going to make it very clear. We’re not selling the LCBO. It’s a great asset.”
Grocery stores that already sell beer and wine will be able to sell ready-to-drink cocktails starting Aug. 1, and convenience stores can start selling beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails on Sept. 5.
The Premier also said he has spoken to hundreds of front-line LCBO workers from the Ontario Public Service Employees Union who were unaware of the Crown corporation’s latest offer, which includes 7-per-cent wage increases over three years.
“We need to get back to the table. These folks don’t want to be sitting out in 100-degree weather or pouring rain. They want to work,” Mr. Ford said.
He said the LCBO and the union are not far apart on key issues of job security, wages and benefits. “This strike should have never, ever taken place,” he said.
The union, meanwhile, said it would hold a virtual town hall Wednesday evening to review both the LCBO and the OPSEU’s proposals.
Colleen MacLeod, chair of OPSEU’s liquor board employees division and bargaining team, said Wednesday the fight is about “protecting good jobs in our communities and public revenues.” She said Mr. Ford’s “alcohol everywhere scheme” will mean thousands of lost jobs, fewer hours for the 70 per cent of LCBO retail workers who are casual employees and hundreds of millions in dollars of lost public revenue.
“All along, we’ve been clear – we’re ready to head back to the bargaining table immediately,” Ms. MacLeod said in a statement.
“But Ford is lying about the LCBO’s offer. We didn’t walk away from the table – the LCBO told us not to come back unless we were willing to give up on our core demands that included job security and growing the LCBO to meet demand and improve convenience.”
She added at a press conference later on Wednesday that union members do not believe Mr. Ford’s assurances that the LCBO will remain public.
The decision to expand alcohol sales – particularly of ready-to-drink beverages – is at the heart of the dispute between the government and the union representing more than 9,000 workers.
The union is urging the government to drop the expansion of pre-mixed beverages into the private market, saying the move threatens their livelihood as a retail operation, given the growing popularity of such drinks, and puts $2.5-billion in revenue at risk.
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According to the LCBO’s 2022-23 annual report, ready-to-drink (RTD) or spirits-based coolers “has been one of the fastest growing and most popular product categories in recent years.” In 2023, sales grew by 6.8 per cent, or $42.8 million, to $673.1 million, which represents 9.1 per cent of the LCBO’s merchandising alcohol sales.
Bars and restaurants have also reported dwindling stock since the strike began, with delays in shipments and product availability. A plan to open five stores exclusively for wholesalers on Wednesday was cancelled by the LCBO after OPSEU threatened to picket the locations. Asked Wednesday about concerns from businesses, Mr. Ford thanked them for their patience and said businesses can order online from a special website.
In a statement, the LCBO said while it continues to operate, “it is not business as usual.” The Crown corporation said it is taking and fulfilling orders but inventory selection during the strike ebbs and flows as products move in and out of warehouses.