A group representing Ontario’s bar and restaurant owners says it is “grateful” that officials opted to walk back a plan to reopen some LCBO stores later this week in an effort to “safeguard” inventory for “vulnerable businesses.”
Restaurants Canada said the decision not to reopen a limited number of stores to the public this weekend shows that its members “have been heard.” “Over the course of the weekend, we have remained in close communication with the LCBO and government officials to address the challenges our sector is facing due to the LCBO strike. I am appreciative of Premier Ford and Minister Bethlenfalvy for listening to our concerns and recognizing the importance of prioritizing our sector,” Kelly Higginson, president and CEO of Restaurants Canada said.
This is the second time the LCBO has scrapped plans to temporarily reopen stores. On Monday, the LCBO decided against opening five stores to allow bar and restaurant owners to buy alcohol after the Crown corporation said the union threatened to picket these locations. The union acknowledged the impact the strike is having on customers and communities, adding that striking employees “want stores to be open and to be back at work as soon as possible.”
The union has previously accused the premier of undermining the negotiations by releasing a map of where alcohol could be purchased elsewhere in the province during the strike.