NDP: Liberal government abandoning small communities

Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP John Vanthof says the future of small Ontario communities is being brought into question by a Liberal government more focused on making money than serving Ontario’s residents fairly, whose long list of cuts now include LCBO locations critical to local families and tourism-driven communities.

“The area around Larder Lake has about 1,000 residents. The town has one gas station, one co-op grocery store, two restaurants, several tourist lodges and campgrounds and, until recently, it had one LCBO outlet. In a northern Ontario tourist town, an LCBO outlet is an anchor store,” explained Vanthof during question period this morning. “Due to circumstances beyond anyone’s control, the LCBO could no longer stay in their current location. But instead of moving locations, they … abandoned the town. They abandoned the residents.

When asked about the closure, the LCBO said residents would be served by neighbouring communities. But, as Vanthof explained, for northern and rural Ontarians, that could mean hours of driving roundtrip, and ordering online isn’t an option as many small communities still lack internet service.

 

“According to the president of the LCBO, rural Ontarians travelling 27 to 40 kilometres one way for service is reasonable. With this ratio in mind, many other outlets in my region are at risk. In fact, many outlets throughout rural Ontario are at risk under that ratio,” said Vanthof. 

Vanthof urged the government to prioritise the social responsibility the LCBO has to Ontario’s residents and communities over cost cutting measures, asking:

“Does the Minister of Finance agree with the president of the LCBO that maximizing profits for the LCBO should be the only basis on deciding where to locate a store? Will the minister work with me and … ensure that all rural Ontarians in the future have the benefit of the social responsibility of the government through the LCBO and aren’t abandoned?”