Manitoba’s leader has urged Doug Ford to reverse course on the decision to remove Crown Royal from liquor store shelves in Ontario. Wab Kinew, speaking from the Gimli, Manitoba distillery where the whisky is produced, emphasized that jeopardizing jobs in other provinces contradicts a united “Team Canada” stance in the trade conflict with the U.S.
Kinew appealed to Ford, acknowledging his public statements but urging him to reconsider for the greater good of national unity. He highlighted the importance of standing together against external pressures, emphasizing the need for solidarity in the face of the ongoing trade war.
Ford had previously announced intentions to delist Crown Royal from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario once Diageo, the brand’s owner based in the U.K., closes a bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ontario. This decision, Ford stated, was due to the relocation of jobs to the United States.
In response, Diageo confirmed plans to maintain a significant presence in Canada by transferring bottling operations from Amherstburg to a facility in Valleyfield, Quebec. Kinew assured that assurances have been received from Diageo regarding the continued operations in Gimli.
The symbolic significance of Crown Royal as a Canadian product was highlighted by Kinew, emphasizing that its authenticity is tied to its production within Canada. Local sentiments were echoed by Kevin Chudd, Mayor of the Rural Municipality of Gimli, who emphasized the economic importance of the Diageo plant to the community and the broader region.
Despite acknowledging a positive relationship with Kinew, Ford reiterated his commitment to removing Crown Royal from Ontario shelves. Kinew extended an invitation to Ford for a meeting to resolve the issue amicably.
The move to remove Crown Royal was criticized by Barry Sawyer, the national president of United Food and Commercial Workers, who warned that interprovincial trade barriers would harm Canadian workers. The Gimli and Valleyfield plants together employ around 400 workers, Sawyer noted.
While discussions of potential retaliations by Manitoba were raised by Federal Conservative MP James Bezan, Kinew emphasized that Manitoba would not engage in tit-for-tat actions against Ontario. Maintaining a stance against actions that could negatively impact jobs in other provinces, Kinew underscored the importance of unity and collaboration during times of economic challenges.