Doug Ford Claims ‘We will never, ever sell the LCBO’, Amid Ontario Protests

Earlier this week, LCBO’s employees were seen protesting outside the MPP’s office as the union leader representing LCBO workers lied about LCBO’s privatization.

“We will never, ever sell the LCBO,” Ford told reporters on Wednesday. “It’s unfortunate their leader is actually misleading, let me be more blunt, lying, about us closing the LCBO. We will never ever close the LCBO.”

The Liquor Control Board of Ontario is the corporation that sells and distributes alcoholic beverages throughout the province. On Tuesday, a province wide protest took place where the LCBO workers’ were a part of the protest. Petitions were distributed to the offices of 11 government officials, including the premier’s constituency office in Etobicoke.

Late last year, the Premier Doug Ford announced that over 8,500 new stores will be allowed to sell alcohol by the year 2026. This includes convenience stores, big box stores, in addition to grocery stores.

“We’re going to stand together and do whatever it takes to stop Doug Ford from selling off the LCBO and to protect good jobs in every community across Ontario,” OPSEU President JP Hornick said in a statement.

At no point has the government publicly hinted at selling the LCBO or privatizing the industry. Both the Ford government and the Convenience Industry Council have argued the changes are about giving residents more choice.

Navneet Kaur