Days following Manitoba’s expression of concern, Quebec has now joined in criticizing Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s impending ban on Crown Royal whisky produced in Amherstburg. Quebec’s finance minister has raised objections to the Ontario government’s decision to remove the liquor from government-run liquor stores starting next month.
Premier Doug Ford’s move is a response to the closure of a bottling plant near Windsor by the UK whisky giant Diageo, resulting in the loss of approximately 200 union jobs and the permanent shutdown of the plant next month. Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard has communicated his worries to his Ontario counterpart, highlighting the inopportune timing for actions that could weaken Canadian supply chains amidst trade tensions with the US.
In a similar vein, Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew urged Ford to reconsider his stance to safeguard the existence of Diageo’s bottling plant in Gimli. The Diageo-owned property in Amherstburg was put up for sale late last year. Workers at the plant endorsed a closure agreement in December, which includes enhanced entitlements to support employees during the transition.
While Diageo assures that Crown Royal whisky will still undergo the initial production stages in Canada, the decision to shift some bottling activities closer to US consumers has been explained as an operational strategy. Diageo emphasized its commitment to maintaining a substantial presence in Canada, including its Canadian headquarters and warehouse in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as other production facilities in Gimli, Manitoba, and Valleyfield, Quebec. The Amherstburg plant has been the bottling site for Crown Royal since 1971.