Ford’s decision to speed up alcohol sales expansion to cost province $612M: report

Beer cans are stacked as props in front a display of ice cream, at a press availability attended by Ontario Premier Doug Ford at a convenience store in Toronto, Thursday, Dec. 14, 2023.

TORONTO -- Ontario’s budget watchdog estimates that the government’s decision to speed up the rollout of alcohol sales in corner stores will cost the province more than $600 million.

That’s nearly three times the amount the Progressive Conservative government said it would cost to accelerate the timeline.

The Financial Accountability Officer says in a report today that the expansion of beer, wine and coolers to convenience stores, big box stores and more grocery stores will cost $1.4 billion through to 2030, and $612 million of that is due to the sped-up timing.

Premier Doug Ford’s previous plan was to expand sales of those alcoholic offerings by 2026, but in May he announced that would instead happen in 2024.

The province said an “early implementation agreement” with The Beer Store involves Ontario paying the company up to $225 million to help it keep stores open and workers employed.

That announcement first sparked speculation of an early election call -- which Ford has now confirmed is happening Wednesday -- when the premier was asked if he was trying to get booze in corner stores before an election and he wouldn’t commit to sticking to the June 2026 fixed date.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 27, 2025.