Ontario’s finance minister has confirmed that there is approximately $80 million worth of U.S. booze that was pulled from LCBO shelves last winter and remains in storage today.
However, Peter Bethlenfalvy says that Ontario has no plans to begin offloading any of that product.
This despite an announcement from officials in Nova Scotia that they will sell their remaining supply of U.S. alcohol while continuing their months-long boycott by not ordering additional product.
In an interview with Newstalk 1010 on Thursday afternoon, Bethlenfalvy called that idea—which would see the profits from the sale of approximately $14 million in U.S. booze directed to local charities—“very positive” but noted that it is not something being considered by Ontario at the moment.
“We have about 80 million of U.S. booze that is on our shelves. Very little of it – I think in the next six or seven months the total is less than 2 million bucks – will be expired. Because most of it is in spirits and wine that will last a long time,” he said.
“We are steadfast about protecting Ontario workers and businesses and this is a move that we are going to hold fast on because we need to get a tariff-free deal or a low-tariff deal with the United States.”
Ontario removed all U.S. alcohol from LCBO shelves last March amid an escalating trade war.
A number of other Canadian provinces also followed suit.
In October, New Brunswick opted to sell its unused inventory while continuing its boycott.
Quebec, meanwhile, said in August that it would have to destroy $300,000 worth of expired product as its boycott continued.
