Ontario premier says residents should 'stock up' as he vows to remove Crown Royal whisky from province

Ontario premier Doug Ford urged residents to stock up and renewed his vow to remove Crown Royal from provincial liquor stores after Diageo announced plans to close a Crown Royal plant in Ontario and shift operations to the United States; Diageo has said it will continue core production tasks in Canada and that some bottling for non-US markets will remain in Canada.

Ontario's premier, Doug Ford, urged residents to stock up if they want to keep buying Crown Royal and renewed his promise to remove the whisky from provincial liquor stores. His remarks follow Diageo's announcement that it plans to close a Crown Royal plant in Ontario and move operations to the United States, a move that has already been linked to roughly 200 job losses. The disagreement has been public since September and centres on corporate production choices and trade-related concerns. Ford has said the province could use its role as a major alcohol purchaser in response. Key facts: - The premier said he is committed to removing Crown Royal from provincial store shelves and told residents to "stock up" if they want to continue buying it. - Diageo announced plans to close a Crown Royal plant in Ontario and shift operations to the US; previous plans for a new Ontario distillery were changed, then paused, and the move has been associated with about 200 job losses. - Diageo has publicly stated that Crown Royal will continue to be mashed, distilled and aged in Canada and that products sold in Canada and destined for markets outside the US will continue to be bottled in Canada. Summary: The dispute has created a public standoff between the provincial government and a multinational spirits company over where Crown Royal is produced and sold, and the premier has signalled possible use of provincial purchasing power in response. Diageo says some production and bottling for non-US markets will remain in Canada, while plans for new facilities in Ontario have been altered and paused. Undetermined at this time.