Beer in Ontario may soon be coming to a corner store near you. According to an article in CBC.ca, the Progressive Conservative government has tabled legislation that would terminate a contract with The Beer Store. This would pave the way for beer in corner stores.
The Beer Store is owned by more than 30 Ontario-based brewers.
While tabling today’s bill, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli said the current system is a monopoly that is a bad deal for consumers and businesses.
The Tories also announced a number of loosened alcohol restrictions in last month’s budget, including allowing alcohol to be served at 9 a.m., seven days a week, letting people consume booze in parks, and legalizing tailgating parties near sports events.
The Tories have also announced a number of loosened alcohol restrictions, including allowing alcohol to be served at 9 a.m., seven days a week, letting people consume booze in parks, and legalizing tailgating parties near sports events.
The previous Liberal government signed a 10-year deal with the brewers that permitted an expansion of beer and wine sales to hundreds of grocery stores.
While Ontario Premier Doug Ford has indicated he plans to put beer and wine in corner stores, there is already resistance to the plan. Labatt Brewing Company Limited and Molson Canada 2005 have put the government on notice of a potential legal challenge to the beer legislation.
“The Bill will destroy those benefits, legislate 7,000 Ontario-based The Beer Store employees out of work and cause billions of dollars in damages … and result in higher costs and prices for consumers,” the lawyers wrote in a letter obtained by CBC.ca.
While there is pushback, not everyone is against the plan. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business and Retail Council of Canada applauded the legislation.
SOURCE: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/beer-store-deal-1.5151483