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Ontario’s Financial Accountability Officer has projected that the government’s initiative to expedite the sale of alcohol in convenience stores will result in a financial impact exceeding $600 million for the province. This figure is significantly higher than the $225 million estimate previously provided by the Progressive Conservative government for the accelerated timeline.
According to a report released today, the expansion of the availability of beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages to various retail outlets, including convenience stores and big-box retailers, is expected to cost a staggering $1.4 billion by the year 2030. Of this total, $612 million is attributed specifically to the hastened rollout of the plan.
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Premier Doug Ford’s original timeline for this expansion was set for 2026; however, in May, he announced that the rollout would instead commence in 2024. As part of this initiative, the province disclosed it will enter into an “early implementation agreement” with The Beer Store, amounting to a payout of up to $225 million intended to support the company’s operations and workforce retention.
The announcement of accelerated alcohol sales initially stirred speculation about a potential early election, which Ford has since confirmed is scheduled for Wednesday. When questioned about whether he aimed to implement alcohol sales in convenience stores before the election, Ford refrained from committing to the originally fixed date of June 2026.
As public discussions continue regarding the implications of this policy change, the financial and social impacts of alcohol sales in more locations remain a focal point for many Ontarians.
Source
globalnews.ca