Ford’s move to speed up alcohol sales expansion to cost Ontario $612M: report

Ontario’s fund watchdog estimates that the government’s determination to velocity up the rollout of intoxicant income successful country stores volition outgo the state much than $600 million.

That’s astir 3 times the magnitude the Progressive Conservative authorities said it would outgo to accelerate the timeline.

The Financial Accountability Officer says successful a study contiguous that the enlargement of beer, vino and coolers to convenience stores, large container stores and much market stores volition outgo $1.4 cardinal done to 2030, and $612 cardinal of that is owed to the sped-up timing.

Premier Doug Ford’s erstwhile program was to grow income of those alcoholic offerings by 2026, but successful May helium announced that would alternatively hap successful 2024.

The state said an “early implementation agreement” with The Beer Store involves Ontario paying the institution up to $225 cardinal to assistance it support stores unfastened and workers employed.

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That announcement archetypal sparked speculation of an aboriginal predetermination telephone — which Ford has present confirmed is happening Wednesday — erstwhile the premier was asked if helium was trying to get booze successful country stores earlier an predetermination and helium wouldn’t perpetrate to sticking to the June 2026 fixed date.