Toronto, ON: The Canadian Taxpayers Federation is calling on the Ford government to allow grocery stores to sell all types of alcohol as long as the LCBO union remains on strike.

“Ontarians want to be able to buy alcohol at local businesses that are open at convenient times and provide great service,” said CTF Ontario Director Jay Goldberg. “The only thing the LCBO strike is showing Ontarians is that it makes zero sense to have one Crown corporation control the marketplace. Until this strike is over, the Ford government must allow Ontarians to buy all types of alcohol at other places, such as grocery stores.”

LCBO employees walked off the job one week ago to protest Premier Doug Ford’s decision to allow ready-to-drink coolers and seltzers, as well as beer and wine, to be sold in grocery stores and corner stores across the province.

In provinces like Alberta and Saskatchewan, grocery stores and private liquor stores are allowed to sell liquor, providing for more convenience in terms of locations and hours. Allowing these stores to sell alcohol also takes away the threat of a province-wide alcohol strike.

“By shutting down LCBO locations across the province, the LCBO union bosses are preventing Ontarians from being able to buy and enjoy the alcohol they want,” said Goldberg. “They’re betting that Ontarians will get fed up with this ‘dry summer’ and pressure the government to cave and make a deal.

“Instead, the Ford government should call the union’s bluff and allow Ontarians to purchase all alcohol at grocery stores.”