Hudak’s Ontario liquor privatization plan threatens 10,000 jobs

 

Across Ontario, up to 10,000 jobs could be at the risk with Tim Hudak's plan to privatize the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, preident of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union.

 

Women, a majority of the LCBO employees, could be hit hardest by the job losses, in dozens of communities across Ontario.

 

"How many times are we going to go down this same, old path of selling off the incredibly profitable LCBO?" asked Thomas.

 

The 7,000 regular jobs at the LCBO swell to 10,000 with seasonal hiring at Christmas and during the summer months.

 

"Mike Harris tried it and he backed off. Dalton McGuinty tried it and he backed off. Why did both of them back away from privatizing the LCBO? Because the people of Ontario have told the government over and over again they want the LCBO to stay in public hands." said Thomas.

 

In the last fiscal year, the LCBO had revenues of close to $5 billion and returned a dividend of more than $1.6 billion to the provincial treasury — more than $2 billion including taxes — to pay for health care, education and infrastructure.

 

Hudak ignored the LCBO's strict policy of enforcing rules prohibiting minors, those who are intoxicated and third-party purchasers from buying liquor, said Thomas. Last year, LCBO sales staff challenged more than a million customers under the LCBO's social responsibility polices.

 

"Tim Hudak is crossing his fingers, closing his eyes and hoping that private retailers will exercise the same degree of social responsibility as the LCBO does," said Thomas. "But the evidence from other jurisdictions, like Alberta, points in the opposite direction. When the profit motive is at stake, private retailers would prefer to make a sale than to protect the health and safety of their communities."

 

Thomas said the liquor board employees successfully fought back against Harris' plans to privatize the LCBO 15 years ago and would do so again if Hudak were to form a future government.

 

"We look forward to working with groups like MADD, police associations and health care workers in fighting against any plan to privatize the LCBO or put beer and wine in corner stores. We will put the full resources of our union behind this campaign."