Montreal: Quebec and Manitoba have expressed deep concern over Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s decision to remove the iconic “Crown Royal” whisky from government-run liquor stores. Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard warned that the move is “misguided” and risks destabilizing the Canadian supply chain at a time when interprovincial unity is critical. Girard highlighted that the boycott could negatively impact workers in Quebec, specifically at the Salaberry-de-Valleyfield bottling plant, while weakening Canada’s internal market amid ongoing trade tensions with the United States.
A Threat to National Unity
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew also joined the criticism, urging Ford to reconsider the ban. Kinew emphasized that provinces must stand together as “Team Canada,” especially with the looming threat of U.S. tariffs under the Trump administration. He noted that the boycott directly threatens Manitoba’s economy, as the province’s farmers and workers provide the essential grains and labor for the Crown Royal distillery in Gimli. Kinew argued that a “house divided against itself cannot stand” and that hurting workers in one province to retaliate for losses in another is counterproductive.
The Root of the Dispute
Premier Doug Ford maintains that his primary duty is to protect Ontario workers. His anger stems from the decision by Diageo, the parent company of Crown Royal, to permanently shutter its bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ontario, by February 2026. Ford claims the closure will result in the loss of 200 high-paying union jobs, which he believes are being moved to a new facility in Alabama. To protest this, Ford famously dumped a bottle of the whisky in front of cameras and called for a provincial boycott starting next month.
Continued Sales in Other Provinces
Despite Ontario’s stance, Diageo has clarified that Crown Royal destined for the Canadian and international markets (outside the U.S.) will continue to be bottled in Canada, specifically moving operations to the Valleyfield plant in Quebec. Authorities in both Quebec and Manitoba have confirmed that their government-owned liquor stores will continue to sell Crown Royal as usual, rejecting the call for a boycott to safeguard their local jobs and industries.
