Ford won't budge on plan to have ready-to-drink cocktails sold in corner stores

LCBO workers went on strike last week, an action their union says is about Ford's plans to expand alcohol sales rather than wages

Written by The Canadian Press

Jul 10, 2024

Ontario Premier Doug Ford carries a case of beer during a photo-op at Cool Beer Brewing Company in Toronto. (CP/Cole Burston)

By Liam Casey and Allison Jones

Ontario will not budge on its plan to have ready-to-drink cocktails sold at convenience and grocery stores across the province, Premier Doug Ford said Wednesday on the issue that has become a sticking point in an ongoing strike by liquor store workers.

Workers at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario went on strike last week, an action their union says is about Ford's plans to expand alcohol sales rather than wages.

Grocery stores that already sell beer and wine will be able to sell ready-to-drink cocktails starting August 1, and convenience stores can start selling beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails, also called RTD, on September 5.

"RTD is off the table," Ford said. "Let me be very clear: it's done, it's gone, that ship has sailed and it's halfway across Lake Ontario."

Previous rounds of alcohol market expansion in Ontario have kept spirits sales in the hands of the LCBO.

The Ontario Public Service Employees Union did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

But it believes that the next step in alcohol expansion will threaten their workers' jobs and the LCBO's existence.

Ford urged OPSEU to get back to bargaining.

"The quicker we get back to the table, the quicker we're going to be able to move forward with those three issues, benefits, salaries and job security," he said.

The union said Tuesday that no talks are planned. They are waiting for the mediator to call them back to the table.

The LCBO said it did not want a strike and remains committed to reaching a deal.

"The most constructive thing OPSEU could do is respond to the offer we tabled last week," the LCBO said in a statement.

The union has stepped up its actions during the strike by picketing LCBO warehouses and distribution centres, significantly slowing down delivery trucks arriving to stock up.

The LCBO brings in a net income of $2.5 billion to the public's coffers annually, which is then used by the province on services such as health care and education.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 10, 2024.