August 8th, 2018

Ford’s beer subsidy shows backwards priorities

Yesterday’s news that the Ford Conservatives will subsidize beer companies shows that the government’s priorities are entirely backward, says Timiskaming-Cochrane MPP and Ontario NDP Finance critic, John Vanthof.

“Ontarians expect their government to get on with the hard work of making life better for families,” Vanthof said. “That means making investments in mental health services – not slashing them by $335 million a year. That means fixing our crumbling schools – not cutting $100 million for schools repairs.”

The subsidies Doug Ford is offering come with a substantial price tag at the LCBO — more than $100,000 per month, per brewery. And they hurt Ontario’s excellent small and craft breweries by subsidizing other breweries to undercut them.

“In what alternate universe is providing free advertising and premium shelf space not a subsidy,” Vanthof said. “The only breweries that can afford to produce a dollar beer will be large multinational corporations that can lower quality.”

“Why is this government choosing to spend public money to subsidize beer corporations while slashing planned social assistance increases for Ontario’s most vulnerable citizens?” Vanthof asked.