Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard says Ontario’s plan to remove Crown Royal whisky from government-run liquor stores is misguided and risks further disrupting Canadian supply chains at a time of economic uncertainty.
Girard said he has raised his concerns directly with Ontario Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy, warning that a boycott could have unintended consequences for workers in Quebec. Crown Royal’s parent company, Diageo, has said whisky for Canada and non-U.S. markets will be bottled at its Valleyfield, Que., facility after it closes its Amherstburg, Ont., plant.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has defended the planned boycott, set to begin next month, as retaliation for Diageo’s decision to shut the Amherstburg facility, which will affect about 200 jobs. Ford has said he fears the jobs will move to the United States, where Diageo is building a new plant in Alabama.
Girard said he understands the concerns of Ontario workers but cautioned against actions that could weaken domestic supply chains, especially as Canada faces ongoing trade tensions with the United States. He said his priority is protecting Canadian workers, including those employed at the Valleyfield bottling plant.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has also urged Ford to reconsider, calling for provincial unity during the trade dispute with the Trump administration. Quebec’s liquor board, the Société des alcools du Québec, has confirmed it will not remove Crown Royal from its shelves.