February 13, 2025
Ontario government finally flexes some muscle on beer retail
However Ontario's beer retail status quo meets its demise, no one should mourn it.
However Ontario’s beer retail status quo meets its demise, no one should mourn it.

The Bringing Choice and Fairness to the People Act (Beverage Alcohol Retail Sales) is an anodyne title for what amounts to the nuclear option: Tabled Monday at Queen’s Park, if passed, the bill would write The Beer Store’s 2015 agreement with the Ontario government out of existence — including the penalties owed the American-, Belgian- and Japanese-owned company should the government do exactly that.

At an afternoon press conference, Finance Minister Vic Fedeli suggested this won’t cost taxpayers anything. At minimum, one would expect government lawyers to bill a few hours. Free trade agreements could also come in to play (though that’s a federal concern). And if obliterating contracts carries risks to Ontario’s “open for business” branding, then it’s more than fair to wonder if this is the file on which to spend that capital. Calling it a “Kathleen Wynne sweetheart deal,” as Fedeli did repeatedly on Monday, won’t soften the blow.

Still, this is nothing other than what the Progressive Conservatives promised. “We will not allow the taxpayers of Ontario to be held hostage by The Beer Store’s three multinational owners, who clearly do not have the best interests of Ontario taxpayers and consumers at heart,” Fedeli intoned. He said the government intends to pass the law before the legislature rises for the summer.

[…]