Manitoba premier says Ford's Crown Royal threat could undermine Team Canada trade stance

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew warned that Doug Ford's threat to remove Crown Royal from Ontario stores could weaken a united Team Canada response to U.S. tariffs, and Ford has reiterated he will stop selling the whisky after Diageo closes an Ontario bottling plant next month.

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew said Doug Ford's threat to remove Crown Royal from Ontario liquor stores risks undermining a unified Team Canada approach to recent U.S. tariffs. Kinew made the remarks on CTV Power Play and urged patience in how provinces respond. Ford has said he will stop selling Crown Royal in Ontario after U.K.-based Diageo plans to close an Amherstburg bottling plant next month. The closure is reported to affect about 200 unionized jobs. Key facts: - Wab Kinew warned that removing Crown Royal could weaken the premiers' Team Canada trade stance. - Doug Ford has reiterated he will remove Crown Royal from Ontario shelves in response to the plant closure. - Diageo is closing an Amherstburg bottling plant next month, with around 200 unionized jobs affected. - The premiers and the prime minister have been presenting a unified response to recent U.S. tariffs. Summary: Kinew described Ford's threat as potentially harmful to coordinated provincial and federal efforts on trade and said he would try to talk Ford down from that position while seeking a solution. Ford has maintained his intention to stop Crown Royal sales in Ontario. Undetermined at this time.