Premier Doug Ford’s upcoming boycott of Crown Royal could affect workers in Brampton, where 680 News Radio has discovered that a manufacturer makes the glass bottles for the whiskey. This comes as Ford seems to have provided a possible solution to the liquor manufacturer, which he claims would stop him from taking Crown off the LCBO store shelves.
The glass maker O-I Brampton produces the glass bottles used for Crown Royal, along with bottles for other Diageo brand liquors. O-I chose not to comment when asked by 680 News Radio about how the potential boycott might impact its employees and operations.
When questioned on Monday if he was concerned that pulling Crown Royal from LCBO shelves would harm these workers in Brampton, Premier Ford replied, “No, not at all.” Ford has vowed to remove the liquor from the LCBO in response to Diageo shutting down its bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ont., affecting around 200 workers.
This week, Premier Ford appeared to ease his position twice by suggesting an alternative approach for avoiding the boycott.
“I’m flexible,” Ford said on Monday, indicating that if the company could propose a way to replace those 200 jobs elsewhere, he would reconsider his stance on the boycott.
“Show me a plan that’s going to replace those jobs, and then we’re good,” the Premier stated on Wednesday.
Diageo did not respond when 680 News Radio asked whether it would meet the Premier’s request.
Diageo informs 680 News Radio that it directly employs over 100 people in Ontario aside from those who will lose their jobs in Amherstburg and spends more than $100 million annually with Ontario companies for advertising, goods and services.
Premiers from two other provinces have urged Ford against removing Crown Royal from the LCBO. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew asked Ford to “do a 180,” pointing out that the liquor is distilled in Gimli, Man., while Quebec‘s finance minister also expressed concerns as Quebec hosts a Diageo bottling facility.
Ford has committed to pulling Crown Royal from LCBO shelves once Diageo closes its Ontario bottling facility on February 28.
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