Petition opposes plan to close Manitoulin Island’s only Beer Store

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Manitoulin Island to lose its only Beer Store next month

Beer Store cuts 2 northern locations as Ont. prepares for recycling program shift

A petition with more than 2,100 signatures is seeking to stop or delay the closure of the only Beer Store on Manitoulin Island.

Resident Debbie Lovelace, who started the petition, said she is concerned about the lack of alternatives.

“Our grocery stores have no room for expansion for alcohol sales. Our liquor store doesn’t have the capacity for carrying beer, as well,” Lovelace said.

“We as a township could actually get a plan set up, because we have no plan.”

Community rallies against closure

Town of Northeastern Manitoulin and the Islands Mayor Alan MacNevin sent a letter to the Brewers Retail head office expressing the town council’s concerns about job losses, the return of empties and the impact on local services.

However, he told CTV News he doesn’t expect the company will change its mind.

“I’m not optimistic things are going to change. I can always hope, but so far I haven’t got a reply back,” MacNevin said.

Customer Brent Holmburg worries the closure will harm the local economy.

“I come into Little Current, I visit the beer store, liquor store, but I also go to the grocery store,” Holmburg said.

“So now that’s going to change quite a bit for a lot of people, I think, and it’s going to affect the economy here.”

The Beer Store and union weigh in

In a statement to CTV News, The Beer Store said the closure is part of broader changes to alcohol retail in Ontario and is final.

“Where we sell beer and collect empties in Ontario is changing. Unfortunately, this means making the decision to close some retail locations,” said Ozzie Ahmed, the Beer Store’s vice president of retail.

The union representing workers said five jobs are at risk.

“We will be working to find everyone either a location to work at or enhanced severance packages,” said United Food and Commercial Workers Canada president John Nock.

Nock also raised concerns about where consumers will return empty containers and questioned if the deposit will become “just a tax.”

The Little Current location is scheduled to close Oct. 19.