‘We’re not going to turn back’: Ontario finance minister rejects LCBO union proposal

The Ford government is firmly rejecting a request by striking LCBO employees to restrict nan waste of ready-to-drink beverages successful convenience stores erstwhile nan province’s caller alcohol-access rules return effect successful September.

As portion of nan Progressive Conservative party’s scheme to springiness consumers wider entree to brew and wine, nan authorities is allowing for nan waste of definite spirits-based drinks, specified arsenic pre-mixed cocktails, successful area stores arsenic of Sept. 5.

The national representing 9,000 striking LCBO workers has based on that nan provincial liquor shop should person exclusive correct to waste spirits and pre-mixed drinks and has cited nan authorities argumentation arsenic 1 of its cardinal reasons for stepping disconnected nan job.

In an question and reply pinch Global News, Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy ruled retired stepping backmost immoderate portion of nan intoxicant liberalization policy.

“No, no, we’re not going to spell backmost connected that,” Bethlenfalvy said. “We’ve sewage a committedness to nan group of Ontario. We’ve campaigned connected distributing those types of beverages, including nan fresh to portion into nan points of waste and we’re not going to move backmost connected that.”

Bethlenfavly pointed retired that convenience stores will beryllium restricted to trading pre-mixed drinks nether 7.5 per cent intoxicant content, a number of which are presently offered astatine nan LCBO.

Bethlenfalvy, who’s responsible for nan Crown agency, insisted that he’s “very optimistic” astir nan early of nan LCBO arsenic nan superior retailer for spirits and nan sole wholesaler successful Ontario.

When asked whether nan Ford authorities could guarantee that its intoxicant policies will not consequence successful eventual shop closures aliases layoffs – a cardinal interest for nan national – Bethlenfalvy said he didn’t want to speculate.

“I’m not going to make immoderate commitments because I don’t cognize nan future,” Bethlenfalvy said.

On Tuesday, Bethlenfalvy sent a missive to nan chair of nan LCBO directing nan Crown agency to “promote and prioritize Ontario-made products and producers” successful its retail, online and wholesale operations.

In that letter, Bethlenfalvy besides conceded that nan LCBO continues to make “meaningful financial contributions to provincial coffers” and that revenues and dividends “continue to grow.”

The Ontario Public Sector Employees’ Union contends that nan authorities is jeopardizing nan $2.5 cardinal successful nationalist gross by introducing thousands of backstage retailers into nan intoxicant distribution network.

During his question and reply pinch Global News, Bethlenfalvy suggested nan strike, still successful its infancy, could upwind up doing much harm than good.

“If nan national prolongs nan strike, that could beryllium hurtful to nan semipermanent viability of nan LCBO,” Bethlenfalvy said. “I don’t know. I don’t want to estimate connected that.”

When asked for clarification, Bethlenfalvy suggested that nan onslaught mightiness thrust group to “experience different ways of purchasing alcohol,” earlier quickly pivoting to inquire nan national to return to nan bargaining table.