TORONTO, May 10, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ontarians will pay more for beer and put 7,000 good-paying jobs at risk with the PC government’s plan to sell alcohol in corner stores, even though Premier Doug Ford promised no one would lose their job.
The Beer Store employs over 7,000 people in large and small communities across Ontario. They are well trained and committed to selling alcohol by making social responsibility their top priority.
United Food and Commercial Workers Union Canada Local 12R24 (UFCW Canada Local 12R24) has launched a public awareness campaign to raise awareness about the high costs to beer lovers, communities and taxpayers if Premier Ford continues to use alcohol retailing to distract voters from more urgent problems like health and education cuts.
“The Ford government is creating chaos for communities by pushing ahead with corner-store beer sales,” said John Nock, the president of UFCW Canada Local 12R24. “Right now, beer prices before taxes in Ontario are among the lowest in Canada due to our efficient distribution system to outlets that are equipped to handle beer safely. Study after study has shown that beer prices will rise due to higher distribution costs and the usual convenience store markups. That is what happened in Alberta when it privatized alcohol sales, which Doug Ford’s $1,000-a-day alcohol consultant Ken Hughes knows too well because he profited from it as a partner in Alberta Spirits Inc.”
The Beer Store keeps beer prices low, according to Local 12R24, but it’s government taxes that make it look expensive at the cashier. “If the government really wants to lower beer prices, it would reduce Ontario taxes, which are among the highest in Canada,” said Nock. “It’s definitely not ‘for the people.’”
Ontario taxpayers could also take a $1 billion hit if the Ford government breaks its agreement on beer retailing with 31 brewers. “The Ford government’s obsession with beer in corner stores could directly result in a billion dollars in taxpayer funds being tossed out the window. That would affect all Ontarians and damage our health and education system,” said the Local 12R24 president.
You can listen to some campaign advertisements here (https://www.dropbox.com/sh/lupnw8xeza14cdy/AACAhtZY2oEoPt2lIkX0ChVPa?dl=0).
For more information contact
John Nock, President
UFCW Canada Local 12R24
(905) 854-1224
john.nock@ufcw12r24.ca