The Ontario government is keeping crucial information under wraps about its significant stash of American alcohol products, valued at around $79.1 million, which were removed from retail outlets as a countermeasure in the Canada-U.S. trade conflict.
In August, CBC News submitted a freedom-of-information request to the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) to uncover the destiny, quantity, and disposal strategies for U.S. alcohol products withdrawn in March. The LCBO took 64 days to reply, exceeding the 30-day legal timeframe by 34 days.
Upon the release of the documents, which filled 50 pages, they were heavily censored, concealing most details regarding the at-risk inventory, the quantity already disposed of, and the overall cost to taxpayers.
The LCBO’s lack of transparency contrasts with other provincial liquor authorities in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia, where information about the handling of U.S. liquor stockpiles has been disclosed publicly.
Among the scant details in the LCBO documents was a projected $2.9 million provision in its 2024-25 financial statements for potentially expiring products. This allocation was made to cover anticipated losses from items expected to expire or depreciate before sale.
However, the essential data needed for independent validation of the estimate or to grasp the magnitude of potential waste was deemed “cabinet confidence.”
Colin Blachar, the director of media for Ontario’s Finance Ministry, stated in an email that the removal of U.S.-made alcohol from LCBO shelves was in response to tariffs imposed by President Trump, with the products currently stored until further notice due to their long shelf life and minimal expiration.
James Turk, a Toronto Metropolitan University researcher, criticized the secrecy surrounding the LCBO’s withheld information, emphasizing that routine operational details, such as warehouse alcohol quantities or removed inventory, should not be classified as “cabinet confidence.”
Turk highlighted a broader trend of secrecy within the provincial government, citing previous instances where essential information was withheld under the guise of confidentiality, including the refusal to disclose mandate letters and lack of transparency in various government dealings.
The NDP has also denounced the secrecy, with Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles describing the redacted LCBO documents as part of a pattern of concealment by the Ford government.
CBC News has lodged an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s Office regarding the redactions made by the LCBO in the internal documents.
To access the LCBO’s internal documents, you can view them below or visit the provided link.
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontario-lcbo-us-alcohol-inventory-9.6961672)
