Ontario Premier Doug Ford has officially retracted his threat to pull one of Canada’s most iconic spirits from the shelves of the LCBO. Following months of high-stakes negotiations and a public display of pouring a bottle of whisky onto the ground, the Ontario government and Crown Royal’s parent company, Diageo, have reached a $23 million deal. This investment package is designed to support Ontario workers and supply chains, despite the permanent closure of a major bottling plant in the Windsor area.
The Origins of the Whisky War
The conflict began in September 2025, when Diageo announced it would be closing its Amherstburg bottling facility, a move that directly impacted 200 local jobs. Premier Ford responded by threatening to remove Crown Royal from all Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) locations—a significant threat given that Ontario is one of the world’s largest purchasers of beverage alcohol.
After months of “tough love” rhetoric, the Premier recently offered an “olive branch” to the international beverage giant. “By standing firm in our plan to protect Ontario workers, we’ve secured nearly $23 million in investments that Ontario would not otherwise have seen,” Ford stated. While the Amherstburg plant will still close, the new funds aim to bolster the provincial economy in other sectors.
Breakdown of the $23 Million Investment
The agreement ensures that Crown Royal remains a staple on shelves in Oshawa, Whitby, and Ajax, while directing funds into various Ontario-based industries:
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$11 Million: To purchase grain neutral spirits from Eastern Ontario.
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$5 Million: Dedicated to Ontario-based marketing and promotion.
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$3 Million: For the production of “ready-to-drink” beverages via a Toronto co-packer.
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$1 Million: To support the growth of the Ontario agricultural sector (benefiting rural Durham Region areas like Scugog).
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$500,000: Specifically for economic development in the Amherstburg area to help mitigate the loss of the plant.
National and Provincial Reactions
The resolution has been met with mixed responses. Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard both welcomed the decision, as a boycott in Ontario would have jeopardized production and jobs in their respective provinces. Kinew noted that the Crown Royal distillation facility in Gimli, Manitoba, now appears secure for the long term.
However, local critics in Windsor-Essex, including NDP MPP Lisa Gretzky, argue that the deal is a “PR stunt” that fails to address the immediate loss of 200 jobs. Gretzky pointed out that only four per cent of the total investment is going directly to the community losing the bottling plant.
For consumers in the Durham Region, the takeaway is clear: your favorite whisky is here to stay. As the $23 million deal begins to flow through the provincial supply chain, the “Whisky War” of 2026 comes to a close, leaving Crown Royal on the shelf and the Premier claiming victory for the Ontario worker.
