Beer

Saturday September 7, 2024

Premier Doug Ford’s decision to liberalize alcohol sales in Ontario’s convenience stores might look like a popular move at first glance, but underneath it is a reckless waste of taxpayer dollars. The $225 million payout to end a contract with The Beer Store just 16 months early is a glaring example of poor financial governance, and it mirrors previous decisions by Ford’s government that have cost Ontarians hundreds of millions with little to show for it.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Saturday September 7, 2024

Ford’s $225 Million Boondoggle is a Reckless Waste of Ontario’s Money

News: More than 300 Toronto corner stores can now sell alcohol

As the Beer Store, Ontario's largest beer vendor, faces an uncertain future with rumours of the non-renewal of the Master Framework Agreement, citizens grapple with the potential demise of this iconic institution, envisioning a nostalgic Brewer's Retail Museum amid Premier Doug Ford's ongoing efforts to expand alcohol sales to more retailers.

November 29, 2023

While the change to allow alcohol sales in convenience stores may appeal to those tired of Ontario’s restrictive liquor laws, the question remains: at what cost? Ford’s government has pushed through this plan with alarming haste, paying out $225 million in public money to escape a contract that could have expired naturally. The timeline of the decision, just ahead of a potential early election, raises concerns that this is less about delivering a long-promised reform and more about securing votes. The payout not only compensates The Beer Store’s multinational owners, but it also raises the ire of a public that would rather see these funds allocated toward essential services, such as health care and infrastructure.

In addition to the wasteful payout, the plan has led to considerable unrest. Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) workers went on strike in response to the changes, public health experts have warned of increased risks of alcohol-related harm, and the compensation deal for The Beer Store has triggered public outrage. With Ontario already the most indebted sub-sovereign entity in the world, the province simply cannot afford such reckless financial maneuvers.

May 18, 2023

Ford’s history of wasteful spending stretches back to his earliest days as premier. One of his first acts in 2018 was the cancellation of over 750 renewable energy projects, costing Ontario $231 million. The justification for these cancellations was to save money by halting projects that, according to Ford, Ontario did not need. However, in 2023, his government found itself reversing course, announcing a new expansion of renewable energy to meet rising demand and shifting corporate priorities toward emissions-free electricity. These contradictory policies not only reflect poor planning but also saddle Ontario with massive financial burdens.

News: Doug Ford shifts direction on wind power in Ontario

Premier Doug Ford has fulfilled a 2018 election promise to expand alcohol sales in Ontario, allowing beer, wine, and other beverages to be sold in 8,500 new outlets by January 1, 2026, but the process has taken decades due to long-standing industry agreements.

December 15, 2023

The $225 million payout for The Beer Store debacle is simply the latest in a pattern of costly decisions made by the Ford government. Ontarians should be outraged at how casually their tax dollars are being spent to satisfy short-term political goals. What could this $225 million have achieved if spent on health care, education, or infrastructure? In a time when the province is grappling with significant challenges—whether it be the crisis in health care, long ER wait times, or underfunded public services—this money could have gone a long way in addressing these needs.

In truth, this alcohol sales policy may represent a form of deregulation that many Ontarians find appealing. After all, increased convenience and the end of outdated “nanny state” rules around alcohol sales seem like progress. But if that progress comes at such an exorbitant cost, it’s fair to ask whether the Ford government’s priorities are truly in the public’s best interest.

July 26, 2012

The decision to liberalize alcohol sales could have been implemented without this massive payout if only the government had waited. The rash decision to buy out The Beer Store’s contract just to meet an election timetable is as unnecessary as it is expensive. Worse, it highlights the ongoing problem with Ford’s leadership—a willingness to spend hundreds of millions with little thought to long-term consequences or the taxpayer’s pocketbook.

Ontario deserves better governance, one that balances popular reforms with responsible stewardship of public funds. This $225 million boondoggle is yet another example of how far the Ford government is from achieving that balance. (AI)

Wednesday November 29, 2023

As the Beer Store, Ontario's largest beer vendor, faces an uncertain future with rumours of the non-renewal of the Master Framework Agreement, citizens grapple with the potential demise of this iconic institution, envisioning a nostalgic Brewer's Retail Museum amid Premier Doug Ford's ongoing efforts to expand alcohol sales to more retailers.

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday November 29, 2023

Ontario’s Beer Store Faces Uncertain Future: A Nostalgic Look at the Possible Demise

July 26, 2012

In the not-so-distant future, one of Ontario’s iconic institutions, the Beer Store, finds itself on shaky ground. As whispers of its potential demise circulate, reminiscent of other Ontario mainstays like the Pop Shoppe and Consumers Distributing, citizens contemplate a future without the familiar sight of this beer retail giant.

Picture this: a Brewer’s Retail Museum emerges, a nostalgic shrine dedicated to memorializing the bygone days of The Beer Store. In a province that has seen the revival of Zellers and a brief reappearance of the Pop Shoppe before it was permanently relegated to the dustbin of history, this museum stands as a testament to an era when department stores were the heartbeat of Ontario.

News: Billions at stake as Doug Ford government prepares to change booze retailing in Ontario 

May 30, 2019

Amidst the nostalgia, Premier Doug Ford’s ongoing efforts to expand alcohol sales beyond the Beer Store are met with mixed emotions. Though beer and wine in convenience stores seem inevitable, the fate of the Beer Store remains uncertain. Speculations arise as insiders suggest that the Master Framework Agreement, governing beer sales in Ontario, may not be renewed, opening the floodgates for increased competition.

The Beer Store, predominantly owned by major breweries like Molson, Labatt, and Sleeman, faces a shifting landscape. The agreement, set to expire in 2025, has spurred the Beer Store to downsize and sell off properties, reducing its footprint by four percent in recent years.

Editorial: Changing how we buy beer in Ontario 

December 22, 2014

While rumors of the Beer Store’s potential closure swirl, public sentiment is divided. Many celebrate the end of what they perceive as a problematic monopoly, anticipating greater convenience, variety, and lower prices with increased competition. However, concerns linger about the potential loss of jobs, the disruption of the deposit-return program, and the impact on beer prices.

As the province awaits a decision on the Master Framework Agreement’s renewal, citizens grapple with the possible end of an era. Whether the Beer Store survives the winds of change or succumbs to the evolving landscape, Ontario’s collective sentiment reflects a desire for a more open and competitive market, where choices abound, prices are reasonable, and nostalgia meets progress. (AI)

 

Helping the Hosers

Illustration by Graeme MacKay – Friday February 17, 2023

Bob & Doug McKenzie take on a beer tax hike

A couple of hosers are telling the Liberal government to take off over its plans to introduce a 6.3% tax increase for beer in April.

July 23, 2004

Working with scriptwriters Larry MacInnis and former MacLean’s humour columnist Scott Feschuk, actors Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas have resurrected their beloved Canadiana characters Bob and Doug McKenzie for a series of scrappy, quick-turnaround radio ads that use their trademark humour to take on the planned tax increase.

The national radio campaign is from Beer Canada, an advocacy organization representing 50 brewers ranging in size from the Canadian divisions of the global multinationals, to regional brewers and what president CJ Hélie describes as a “smattering” of the country’s small craft brewers.

It is one of the first public outreach campaigns from Beer Canada as part of a new communications mandate under Hélie, a longtime beverage alcohol executive who joined the organization in 2021. “I believe that to be successful in government advocacy, you need to convince the public and the general electorate,” said Hélie. “You will see us continually out talking to consumers from now on.”

October 15, 2021

Beer Canada was looking for a way to deliver its message in a way that would resonate with consumers, and perhaps even get the attention of the country’s MPs, said Hélie. “We thought we had a really good message, but who would be the messenger?

“So we thought ‘How can we raise the level of discourse out there?’ We were going back and forth on ideas, when [Beer Canada’s vice-president of strategic communications] Karine Cousineau said ‘What about Bob and Doug McKenzie.?”

The McKenzie Brothers were once familiar faces in Canadian ad-land, appearing in campaigns for brands including Pizza Hut Canada, Mr. Lube, Molson Golden, and Molson Ice (alongside the late hockey great Guy Lafleur).

However, Moranis and Thomas have largely retired the characters, who last appeared publicly in a 2017 benefit for Spinal Cord Injury Ontario. Their last TV appearance was a 2007 CBC Television special entitled Bob & Doug McKenzie’s Two-Four Anniversary.

Cousineau reached out to their agents, and got a call from Moranis later that day. “He said, ‘I understand you’re looking to perhaps bring Bob and Doug back together,’” said Hélie. “That’s very unlikely, since we haven’t done anything in a long time, but what’s your pitch?’”

September 24, 2015

Hélie said the Honey, I Shrunk the Kids star was immediately receptive to appearing in ads addressing a tax that would drive up the price of beer, which was basically an uncredited third star of their appearances as Bob and Doug McKenzie.

Recorded remotely last week, with Moranis in New York and Thomas in Los Angeles, the three 30-second spots feature Bob and Doug repeating some of their signature refrains, including “coo loo coo coo, coo coo coo coo”  and “How’s it goin’, eh?” while railing against the beer tax.

In one spot, Doug (Thomas) suggests that the government consider taxing other things instead, such as yams, confetti, or liver. “Leave beer alone, eh,” he says. In another, he says that the beer tax is already like his brother’s head, overinflated.

Hélie sat in on the one-hour recording session, and said his impression was that Moranis and Thomas don’t talk often now that they live on opposite coasts, yet were able to easily slip into their respective characters. “They started riffing on potential lines they might use, and our writers were taking notes like crazy,” he said. Almost all of the ads were ad-libbed during an initial brainstorming session.

February 12, 2015

The ads drive to a dedicated site, HereForBeer.ca, where consumers can contact their local MP asking them to stop the beer tax hike. The site also features a cartoon rendering of the two characters created by Graeme MacKay, an editorial cartoonist at The Hamilton Spectator.

Since Bob and Doug were at the height of their popularity when beer was sold in “stubbies,” it’s not surprising that the campaign is largely aimed at older Canadians (as well as Members of Parliament). The media buy is largely focused on AM talk and news stations, with an emphasis on Vancouver, Edmonton, Toronto, Ottawa and Atlantic Canada (a region that tends to over-index on brewing).

And if everything goes according to plan, true loves all across Canada won’t have to overpay for the “six packs of two-four” Bob and Doug sing about in their version of “Twelve Days of Christmas.” (The Message) 

 

Wednesday October 26, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Wednesday October 26, 2022

New Mayor, Strong Mayor?

Some said the race to become Hamilton’s next mayor was hers to lose from the outset.

October 1, 2022

And indeed Andrea Horwath took charge of her political destiny, winning a close race to become the first woman to wear the chain of office in the city.

Horwath pulled out the victory over main rival Keanin Loomis, who traded the lead as votes trickled in throughout the evening. Bob Bratina finished a distant third.

“Hamiltonians deserve to have a city that they know they can trust what’s happening at city hall,” she told a jubilant crowd of supporters downtown at The Spice Factory.

She thanked Loomis, Bratina and other candidates. “We do not agree on everything, but we all love this city.”

Horwath finished with 59,216 or 42 per cent of the vote, while Loomis was runner-up with 57,553 or 41 per cent. Bratina garnered 17,436 and 12 per cent.

The former Ontario NDP leader and Hamilton Centre MPP expressed gratitude to voters. “We all believe in the same thing: We believe in Hamilton.” (The Hamilton Spectator) 

August 17, 2022

Meanwhile, Ontario’s big city mayors elected to a new term in office may soon have enhanced powers at their disposal to tackle tough issues like housing.

But experts say the use of so-called “strong mayor” powers may not be clear-cut, and their use may be limited by budgetary constraints and other factors.

Housing was a major election theme in municipal campaigns across the province, particularly related to affordability.

Ontario’s Progressive Conservative government recently passed a law giving mayors of Toronto and Ottawa veto power over bylaws that conflict with provincial priorities like housing, and Premier Doug Ford says the powers will be extended to other cities in a year.

Monday night’s municipal election results mean Ford could be extending those powers to former foes in provincial politics, with former leaders of the NDP and Liberals elected as the mayors of Hamilton and Vaughan, respectively.

McMaster University political scientist Peter Graefe says it will be interesting to see how different municipalities use the strong mayor powers depending on local pressures on councils and from voters. (CTV News) 

From sketch to finish, see the current way Graeme completes an editorial cartoon using an iPencil, the Procreate app, and a couple of cheats on an iPad Pro …

 

Tuesday August 9, 2022

Editorial Cartoon by Graeme MacKay, The Hamilton Spectator – Tuesday August 9, 2022

Ontario legislature session begins as Doug Ford’s government pushes ahead with new mandate

Young Doug Ford: The Series

Opposition parties and critics are calling on the Ontario government to provide more relief to tackle rising inflation while also expediting solutions for hospital staffing woes when the legislature returns and the provincial budget is tabled this week.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s Progressive Conservative government will again table its 2022-23 budget on Tuesday, originally introduced in April and put to the test as a main plank of the PC platform during the June election.

After being re-elected, Mr. Ford said the budget would remain largely intact with the addition of a 5-per-cent increase to Ontario Disability Support Program rates that the party campaigned on, as well as a pledge to tie future annual increases to inflation. The budget promises $4-billion in additional spending for highways and roads and $10-billion for hospital infrastructure over 10 years.

August 3, 2022

But with the cost of living on the rise, inflation surging over 8 per cent and hospitals facing significant staffing shortages, critics say more measures need to be introduced to provide support for Ontarians.

Official Opposition NDP interim leader Peter Tabuns said Friday his party is calling for a new budget that increases spending for health care and education, as well as raises wages for public-sector workers. Mr. Tabuns said this would mean repealing Bill 124, introduced by the government in 2019, capping public-sector wage increases at 1 per cent for a three-year contract period. (The Globe & Mail)