Ontario Premier Doug Ford has issued a stark warning to spirits giant Diageo, reaffirming a threat to pull its products from Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) stores. This dramatic move comes in direct response to Diageo's controversial plan to shutter its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario.
A Press Conference Showdown
The Premier's frustration was on full public display at a press conference in Kitchener on Tuesday, September 2, 2025. In a symbolic act, Ford was photographed emptying a bottle of Crown Royal whisky, one of Diageo's most popular brands in Canada. He used the event to sharply criticize the multinational corporation for its decision to close the Ontario plant in the coming months, a move that will cost local jobs.
The Core of the Conflict
The dispute centers on Diageo's strategic decision to consolidate operations, which involves closing the Amherstburg bottling plant. For the Ford government, this represents a direct blow to Ontario's manufacturing sector and the local economy in the Windsor-Essex region. The Premier's threat to leverage the provincial monopoly on liquor sales through the LCBO is a significant escalation, aiming to use the government's purchasing power as a bargaining chip.
Removing Diageo's portfolio from LCBO shelves would be a major market disruption. The company's brands, which also include Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, and Guinness, are staples in the province's retail liquor landscape. The potential boycott underscores the high-stakes nature of the confrontation between provincial leadership and a global corporate entity.
Broader Implications and Next Steps
This standoff highlights the ongoing tension between corporate efficiency and local economic commitments. Premier Ford's aggressive stance signals a willingness to intervene directly in business operations perceived as harmful to Ontario's interests. The government has not yet specified a deadline for Diageo to reverse its decision before the LCBO threat is enacted.
The coming weeks will be critical as Diageo assesses the financial and reputational risk of losing access to Ontario's massive liquor market. Meanwhile, workers and officials in Amherstburg await a resolution that will determine the plant's fate and the community's economic future. This story continues to develop as both sides weigh their next moves in a high-profile battle over jobs and investment.
