The Ontario government is purposefully keeping important information under wraps concerning its substantial stockpile of American alcohol products, worth around $79.1 million, which were removed from shelves in response to the ongoing trade tensions between Canada and the U.S.
After CBC News submitted a freedom-of-information request in August to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) seeking details on the U.S. alcohol products withdrawn in March, the LCBO took 64 days to respond, exceeding the legal 30-day limit by 34 days. The released documents, spanning 50 pages, were heavily redacted, concealing crucial information such as the amount of inventory at risk of expiration, the quantity already destroyed, and the overall cost to taxpayers.
In contrast to the LCBO’s secrecy, liquor authorities in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia have been transparent about the handling of their U.S. liquor stockpiles. The LCBO documents did reveal a $2.9-million provision in its 2024-25 financial statements for potentially expiring products. However, specific data supporting this estimate was deemed “cabinet confidence,” preventing independent verification by the public.
Colin Blachar, the director of media for Ontario’s Finance Ministry, explained that the removal of U.S.-made alcohol from LCBO shelves was a response to trade tensions initiated by President Trump. The products remain in storage until further notice, with only minimal expiration reported due to the long shelf life of the majority of alcohol items.
James Turk, a researcher at Toronto Metropolitan University, criticized the LCBO’s classification of inventory information as “cabinet confidence,” stating that such operational details should not be shielded from public view. Turk highlighted a pattern of secrecy within the provincial government, citing previous instances like the refusal to disclose cabinet mandate letters and lack of transparency in various government dealings.
The Ontario NDP Leader, Marit Stiles, echoed concerns about the government’s lack of transparency, emphasizing the need for openness in decision-making processes. CBC News has lodged an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s Office regarding the redacted internal documents from the LCBO.