Ford offers Diageo an olive branch in Crown Royal LCBO dispute

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he would ease his threat to remove Crown Royal from the LCBO if Diageo presents a written plan to replace jobs lost by the Amherstburg bottling closure. Diageo has said it will keep a significant footprint in Canada but has not confirmed any job-replacement proposal.

Ontario Premier Doug Ford said he is offering Diageo an "olive branch" to avoid removing Crown Royal from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario if the company presents a plan to replace jobs lost by its Amherstburg bottling plant closure. Ford has previously threatened to pull the whisky brand from the LCBO after Diageo announced the facility would close and relocate work out of province. The closure affected about 160 jobs at the Amherstburg site, and Ford said he would consider concessions such as manufacturing bottles or cartons in Ontario if Diageo can show a written plan. The dispute has drawn criticism from consumer groups and officials in other provinces who warned about possible effects on workers outside Ontario. Key facts: - Ford said he would be open to reversing his threat to remove Crown Royal from the LCBO if Diageo presents a paper plan to replace the jobs affected by the Amherstburg closure. - The Amherstburg bottling facility was announced for closure in the fall and is reported to have affected about 160 jobs; Diageo reached a closure agreement with the local union in early December 2025 that included enhanced benefits through the end of February. - Diageo told Global News it will maintain a "significant footprint" in Canada, citing Canadian headquarters, warehousing in the Greater Toronto Area, and distilling and bottling operations in Manitoba and Quebec, and said it directly employs more than 500 people across Canada including more than 100 in Ontario outside Amherstburg. - Unifor Local 200 reported that about one third of the Amherstburg workers have found new positions at the nearby Stellantis plant in Windsor or in trades-related work connected to the union. - The premier has faced criticism from a consumer advocacy group and from some provincial and federal politicians, who warned that using the LCBO as leverage could affect workers in other provinces. Summary: The immediate issue is whether Diageo will present a written plan that satisfies the Ford government’s request to replace the jobs lost at Amherstburg; Ford has said he would then be open to discussions and could reverse the planned action at the LCBO. Diageo has confirmed its ongoing operations and employment in Canada but has not announced any job-replacement proposal. Undetermined at this time whether the company will offer concessions or whether the LCBO threat will be formally lifted.