LCBO workers 'willing to fight' as strike wraps its first week

As the LCBO strike wrapsits first week, a picket line leader in Sudbury says they'll continue their job action for "as long as it takes."

"We have all the members on our side. We're willing to fight," said Chris Bedard, the LCBO manager in the small town of Alban, near Sudbury, andthe picket line captain in the northern Ontario city.

"We'll stay out here as long as it takes. It doesn't matter. Our bargaining team is behind us and we trust them."

One of the major sticking points for the workers arethe province's plans to expand alcohol sales to more than 8,000 convenience stores.

Convenience stores would be able to sell wine, beer, cider and so-called "ready-to-drink" beverages, or pre-mixed cocktails based on spirits like vodka and gin. It's that last drink category that is most contentious for the LCBO workers.

Bedard says the union would allow for malt-based ready-to-drink alcoholic beverages, but wants to prevent the spirit-based beverages from being sold outside the LCBO.

"It's a nice chunk of the pie for us," Bedard said.

"It's a good public revenue [source] that comes back to help out for healthcare, for infrastructure, for education."

According to Statistics Canada, wine and beer sales in Ontario have remained relatively consistent over the past five years.

In 2018/2019, for example, the value of all beer sales in Ontario was around $3.5 billion. In 2022-2023, that number increased only slightly.

The sales value of pre-mixed cocktails and ciders in 2018/2019 was around $420 million. By the last fiscal year it more than doubled to nearly $858 million.

'That ship has sailed,' says Ford

Ontario Premier Doug Ford has remained committed to his plans to expand alcohol sales, including pre-mixed cocktails, to convenience stores.

"That ship has sailed. It's halfway across Lake Ontario," Ford told reporters on Wednesday.

Ford added he has no plans to privatize the LCBO, but wants it to function alongside other retail outlets, including convenience stores.

In northeastern Ontario more than 70 convenience stores have applied for alcohol licences so far.