[narduch]

On what planet does this soggy lump of wonder bread live?

One where he never has to face any consequences

 

[zang]

In case anyone missed this, Doug's planning on getting rid of Crown Royal from all Ontario LCBO shelves; if only because they've consolidated their Canadian manufacturing in provinces other than Ontario. Essentially Doug wants to force Canadian manufacturers to stay in the province. If Diageo fights back, say goodbye to some big brands.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008290429029036046

Star Article:

It's not strictly part of the Trump trade war, but Manitoba-made Crown Royal is coming off LCBO shelves just like Kentucky bourbon — as a warning, Premier Doug Ford says.

"The message to everyone else: don't try to hurt Ontario," Ford told reporters Monday as he confirmed the iconic Canadian whisky will no longer be sold in the province once parent company U.K.-based Diageo closes its bottling and blending plant in Amherstburg next month.

"You'll be held accountable," the premier added, noting his consternation at Diageo's late 2024 decision to drop plans for a $245 million distillery and warehouse employing 100 near Sarnia, creating hundreds of construction jobs.

"They pulled the carpet out from underneath us."

Two months after scrapping the Sarnia project, Diageo announced it would build a plant and warehouse in Montgomery, Ala.

"Mark my words, it's going to Alabama," Ford said Monday of the work at the Amherstburg plant, which is up for sale. It is the largest employer in the town near Windsor with 180 workers represented by Unifor.

Diageo — whose many brands include Johnnie Walker, Tanqueray gin, Smirnoff vodka, Captain Morgan rum and Guinness stout —
“did not immediately reply to a request for comment from the Star on Monday.

But Diageo officials have said previously that the company will continue making and bottling Crown Royal in Gimli, Man., and bottling the whisky at another plant in Valleyfield, Que., for Canada and export markets other than the United States.

The company employs more than 500 people across Canada aside from its Amherstburg operation which is being closed to "increase the efficiency and resiliency" of manufacturing operations, Diageo said when the closure announcement was made last August.

That prompted a furious Ford to famously pour a large bottle of Crown Royal on the ground at a news conference a few days later at a news conference on supports for workers impacted by the U.S. tariffs.

On Monday, Ford brushed aside concerns that his pending move through the LCBO — one of the largest beverage alcohol buyers in the world — could jeopardize jobs at the Gimli operation and hurt western Canadian grain farmers supplying it.

“"They're closing the plant," he replied.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew's office did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Ford maintained he remains committed to "work collaboratively" with other provincial governments in the trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump.

The Canadian branch of the Washington, D.C.-based Consumer Choice Center said Ford's vow to take Crown Royal off LCBO shelves is an "abandonment" of his push to provide consumers with more choice on where they buy booze and urged him to end the boycott of American spirits, wine and beer.

"Ford's decision last year to ban U.S. alcohol from LCBO stores was wrong, and this move takes things to a whole new level," Jay Goldberg wrote in a statement.

The LCBO is sitting on about $80 million worth of American booze and says the ban on U.S. sales has caused a surged in demand for Ontario and Canadian wine and spirits.

 

[Westey]

Ford seems to have found the magic formula for staying in power - just stay a little bit more ethical than the federal Liberals.
It has given him 3 majorities and also the title of most corrupt Premier in Ontario's history.

 

[gabe]

In case anyone missed this, Doug's planning on getting rid of Crown Royal from all Ontario LCBO shelves; if only because they've consolidated their Canadian manufacturing in provinces other than Ontario. Essentially Doug wants to force Canadian manufacturers to stay in the province. If Diageo fights back, say goodbye to some big brands.

https://twitter.com/x/status/2008290429029036046

Star Article:

This will hurt the restaurant/bar industry big time if all those big name Diageo brands go!

 

[narduch]

Ford seems to have found the magic formula for staying in power - just stay a little bit more ethical than the federal Liberals.
It has given him 3 majorities and also the title of most corrupt Premier in Ontario's history.

Not sure what you are talking about. Ford is way less ethical.

Trudeau was shit but he wasn't corrupt like Ford. Not even close.

 

[zang]

This will hurt the restaurant/bar industry big time if all those big name Diageo brands go!

Bingo. It's starting to feel like Doug's tactics in getting what he wants are more aggressive this time around.

Added: Of course, if one of someone's big goals has been to dismantle the LCBO, that might be a good way to go about it. They would effectively lose probably ⅓ of all major brands of hard alcohol served in bars.

 

[Richard White]

This will hurt the restaurant/bar industry big time if all those big name Diageo brands go!

Indeed.

Despite best efforts, I don't think suppliers like Dillons and others in Niagara-on-the-lake can keep up with demand. There are a lot of small batch distilleries in Ontario but nothing capable of supplying an entire industry.

 

[DSCToronto]

Bingo. It's starting to feel like Doug's tactics in getting what he wants are more aggressive this time around.

Added: Of course, if one of someone's big goals has been to dismantle the LCBO, that might be a good way to go about it. They would effectively lose probably ⅓ of all major brands of hard alcohol served in bars.

Since the Province forces bars and restaurants to buy alcohol through the LCBO I am not sure any of the distillers will decide to boycott Ontario - we are a huge market. Whether it is a good idea to ban Crown Royale I am not so sure. The plant they are closing is used to bottle spirits (distilled in Manitoba) for sale in US (only). If they were bottling for sale in Ontario I would agree 100% but banning Crown Royal from LCBO will actually affect Manitoba workers - so much for Provinces working together!!

 

[lenaitch]

Indeed.

Despite best efforts, I don't think suppliers like Dillons and others in Niagara-on-the-lake can keep up with demand. There are a lot of small batch distilleries in Ontario but nothing capable of supplying an entire industry.

And probably nothing that can replace Guinness. Where will people get their caloric intake?

 

[Full Metal Junkie]

And probably nothing that can replace Guinness. Where will people get their caloric intake?

There are plenty of Ontario craft stouts that are arguably better tasting than Guinness. The stout by Woodhouse is the closest one to Guinness that I know of, even though it's not nitro-charged, so doesn't have the same dense head.
On a personal note, I wish Montreal's Dieu du Ciel would start selling their Aphrodite and Peche Mortel in Ontario again. Who needs Guinness when you could have that?

 

[PL1]

There are plenty of Ontario craft stouts that are arguably better tasting than Guinness. The stout by Woodhouse is the closest one to Guinness that I know of, even though it's not nitro-charged, so doesn't have the same dense head.
On a personal note, I wish Montreal's Dieu du Ciel would start selling their Aphrodite and Peche Nortel in Ontario again. Who needs Guinness when you could have that?

Granite produces and sells a nitro stout. Granted, you have to go to Mt Pleasant and Eglinton to get it

 

[UtakataNoAnnex]

Not sure what you are talking about. Ford is way less ethical.

Trudeau was shit but he wasn't corrupt like Ford. Not even close.

I think "unethical" being used here means "I don't like him!" as opposed to doing something morally questionable/reprehensible ... >.<

 

[Towered]

There are plenty of Ontario craft stouts that are arguably better tasting than Guinness. The stout by Woodhouse is the closest one to Guinness that I know of, even though it's not nitro-charged, so doesn't have the same dense head.
On a personal note, I wish Montreal's Dieu du Ciel would start selling their Aphrodite and Peche Nortel in Ontario again. Who needs Guinness when you could have that?

Indeed - anyone who touts Guinness as the reference point for stouts is tragically unaware of the craft offerings available...

Peche Mortel is godly.

 

[zang]

There are plenty of Ontario craft stouts that are arguably better tasting than Guinness. The stout by Woodhouse is the closest one to Guinness that I know of, even though it's not nitro-charged, so doesn't have the same dense head.
On a personal note, I wish Montreal's Dieu du Ciel would start selling their Aphrodite and Peche Mortel in Ontario again. Who needs Guinness when you could have that?

Granite produces and sells a nitro stout. Granted, you have to go to Mt Pleasant and Eglinton to get it

Indeed - anyone who touts Guinness as the reference point for stouts is tragically unaware of the craft offerings available...

Peche Mortel is godly.

It may be that craft producers make a far better product, but it's about quantity. Unless any of them can ramp up to millions of litres a year, there's no way they can cover what Diageo's loss would cause.