Wynne right on booze issue
By Susan Sherring, Ottawa Sun
First posted: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 09:37 PM EST | Updated: Tuesday, February 17, 2015 09:42 PM EST
So plans for LCBO kiosks in supermarkets have been shelved, so to speak, by the provincial Liberals.
Can't see that as a bad thing.
Frankly, it's hard to understand the desire of some to access booze more easily.
And that's from an unabashed wine lover.
If people are under the misguided assumption that supermarket kiosks will be selling liquor cheaper than the LCBO -- that's not even on the table.
Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne confirmed Tuesday her government has nixed plans -- at least for now -- to set up the supermarket kiosks.
Asked about the reversal of its plans, Wynne had this to say to reporters in Toronto.
"I think that it's now become a much bigger discussion about what the distribution is or should be and so the fact is that once Ed Clark and his group started to look at the assets and look at the LCBO and by extension look at the Beer Store, I think the discussion opened up.
"And so I think it's only responsible that we now look at that whole discussion and figure out where the fairness is. How do we make sure that the distribution is fair across the province? How do we make sure for example, that craft breweries have access, have the access they haven't necessarily had and that's all discussion that has come out of the work that Ed Clark has done. So I think it makes sense that we wouldn't take an isolated plan that we had previously and continue with it when there's a much bigger discussion happening now," Wynne said.
Clark is heading up the Premier's Advisory Council on Government Assets, which is looking into how to get the most out of key government assets to generate better returns and revenues for Ontarians.
Its mandate includes finding ways to maximize the value and performance of Hydro One, OPG and the LCBO to help deliver on the multi-year targets set out in the 2014 budget.
A final report is expected in the spring.
No surprise there.
So, should Ontarians expect the supermarket kiosks at some point down the road?
"I'm not going to jump ahead but I think it's a bigger discussion now and I think we need to wait and get the recommendations from Ed Clark," Wynne said Tuesday.
Of course.
And while you might want to rail about the Liberals for one thing or another, the sale of alcohol is serious business.
Do we really want to make it easier for anyone who's already had a couple of cocktails to dash to the corner store to pick up more; or for our teens to more easily access booze?
Don't think so.
Yes, it's unfortunate that the province headed down one road, speaking out of one side of its mouth and now is speaking out of the other.
Clearly, the cart was put before the horse on this one.
In fact, the LCBO says it was in the process of finalizing lease agreements with host retailers for the express stores in London, Mississauga and Toronto, but the government asked the agency to put the plan on hold.
So be it.
This has to evolve properly.
There has been some movement forward for Ontario's craft brewers.
The Beer Store offered Ontario brewers an opportunity to become owners -- putting their cash on the table, of course.
That is still all under discussion.
Certainly, the wheels of any bureaucracy move far too slowly for almost all of us.
But rushing changes in our alcohol distribution, well, that just doesn't make any sense at all.
Twitter: @susansherring
http://www.ottawasun.com/2015/02/17/...on-booze-issue
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