Head of union is ‘lying,’ Ford says

Premier trying to gradually privatize booze, leader claims

Premier Doug Ford is accusing a major union leader of “lying” to members at the LCBO — who are in contract negotiations — that the government is planning to sell the liquor store to private interests.

But JP Hornick, president of the powerful Ontario Public Service Employees Union, says the premier is trying to paper over a gradual privatization of the Crown-owned booze retailer that has already seen warehousing contracted out and jobs lost.

“Doug Ford can’t be trusted,” Hornick said Wednesday. “Remember, these are the same guys that were trying to sell off the Greenbelt.”

Ford’s accusation came after unionized LCBO workers held rallies outside his Etobicoke North constituency office and in 10 other cities on Tuesday to draw attention to their concerns.

“We’re going to stand together and do whatever it takes to stop Doug Ford from selling off the LCBO and to protect good union jobs in every community across Ontario,” said Hornick.

That is not true, Ford said in Pickering as LCBO contract talks began.

“Their leader is actually misleading and, let me be more blunt, lying to their members about us closing the LCBO,” the premier told reporters, noting that Hornick is “up for re-election in April.”

“We will never, ever sell the LCBO. Matter of fact, they’re going to be the exclusive wholesaler for when we do the Beer Store,” the premier said in reference to the expiry of the province’s master agreement with the Beer Store next year.

That will clear the way for beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails to be sold in convenience stores in addition to grocery and big box stores no later than Jan. 1, 2026, with all the products to be distributed by the LCBO.

“They’re always going to be selling the spirits,” he added, referring to liquor such as whisky, gin, rum and vodka on LCBO shelves that cannot be sold in supermarkets, big box or convenience stores.

“You have a stable job as long as we’re in office,” Ford said to LCBO workers.

Hornick said the government’s long-term strategy for the liquor retailer is “death by 1,000 cuts,” which is why the union is trying to protect members’ jobs and the $2.5 billion in profits the LCBO puts into provincial coffers annually to help pay the cost of public services like health care and education.

“LCBO workers are organized like never before, and they’re ready to fight for the future of the LCBO.”