LCBO strike: Doug Ford cooks up new video promoting booze alternatives

Ontario Premier Doug Ford says location are “still plentifulness of options” for Ontarians to bargain intoxicant successful a caller video drafting ire from immoderate connected societal media.

Ford released nan video successful a station connected X, formerly known arsenic Twitter, connected Monday arsenic LCBO workers find themselves connected nan picket lines for nan first clip successful nan province’s history.

“It’s summertime successful Ontario. That intends much clip extracurricular pinch family and friends astatine a neighbourhood barbecue aliases a camping trip,” Ford said successful nan video, which shows him barbecuing burgers alongside a action of what look to beryllium Ontario-made alcoholic beverages adjacent to nan grill.

“Even though LCBO workers are connected strike, there’s still plentifulness of options for you to bargain beer, wine, cider, coolers and moreover spirits, including products made correct present successful Ontario.”

After Ford is done astatine nan grill, nan video cuts to him sitting astatine a array pinch a computer, scrolling done a caller interactive representation listing locations passim Ontario licensed to waste alcohol, including LCBO Convenience Outlets.

“We’ve created this useful caller representation that shows what stores are unfastened and what they sell,” he said.

“Folks, it’s conscionable that simple. I dream you each springiness it a effort and return nan opportunity to support Ontario producers and their awesome Ontario-made products this summer.”

LCBO workers went connected onslaught July 5 for nan first clip successful nan province’s history aft talks betwixt nan Crown agency and nan Ontario Public Sector Employees Union (OPSEU) collapsed down.

The waste of pre-mixed drinks astatine area and market stores – a move nan Ford authorities has been instrumental successful making a reality – has been a cardinal sticking constituent betwixt nan 2 sides.

Some 9,000 workers are disconnected nan occupation for astatine slightest 2 weeks, aliases until a woody is reached. If a woody is not reached by July 19, 32 stores crossed nan state will unfastened for constricted hours connected Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays.

The Beer Store, section breweries and wineries arsenic good arsenic nan LCBO’s online transportation services will stay open during nan strike.

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Reaction to Ford’s video has been swift, including from immoderate of his critics.

“It makes maine furious that @fordnation tin people an interactive representation to find brew aft conscionable 1 play but he won’t do nan aforesaid point to thief immoderate of nan 2.3 cardinal Ontarians who can’t find a family doctor,” Adil Shamji, a Liberal MPP for Don Valley East, wrote successful a station connected X.

Laura Walton, president of nan Ontario Federation of Labour, said successful a station connected X that interactive maps she would for illustration to spot from nan state should see affordable housing and afloat staffed emergency rooms pinch minimal hold times.

OPSEU did not return Global News’ petition for remark by publication time.

At a property convention connected Thursday, OPSEU leaders blamed Ford for nan onslaught — accusing him of allowing nationalist profits from nan LCBO to beryllium fixed to other, backstage interests.

“Ford’s happy to springiness distant Ontario’s crown jewel,” OPSEU president JP Hornick said.

“LCBO workers person travel guardant successful their thousands to opportunity that we will not guidelines by while this authorities throws distant Ontarians’ money and gives it to billionaires and CEOs.”

In a connection Thursday evening, nan authorities said it was “disappointed” talks had surgery down, refusing to backmost distant from its plans to liberalize intoxicant sales.

“We are much committed than ever to fulfilling our committedness of prime and convenience by expanding entree to beer, cider, wine, and ready-to-drink beverages successful convenience, grocery, and big-box stores starting later this summer,” nan authorities said.

“We impulse OPSEU to return to nan negotiating array and activity towards a woody that prioritizes Ontario consumers and producers.”

— pinch files from Isaac Callan