Crown Royal resolution in sight? Wab Kinew hints deal could be on the way

Bottles of Crown Royal whisky are pictured at an LCBO location in downtown Toronto Thursday January 23, 2026. (Joshua Freeman /CP24)

Premier Wab Kinew is hinting there may soon be a resolution to the dispute with Ontario over Crown Royal.

“I don’t think it’ll be like some big, you know, signing ceremony where it’s Doug Ford and I, you know, shaking hands and high-fiving or whatever,” said Kinew.

“But if there’s just maybe a way to take down the temperature and Diageo is able to announce something that is good for the Ontario worker.”

Doug Ford is threatening to remove Crown Royal from the government-run stores in Ontario after the parent company, Diageo, decided to relocate a bottling plant from Ontario to the United States.

However, following the first ministers meeting on Thursday, Kinew said he had spoken with Ford about the situation, and he sounded optimistic a resolution would be found.

“Our teams are working on this. He and I are speaking about this. The parent company is talking to our government (and) is talking to (Ontario),” said Kinew.

“So, you know, I think things are obviously, maybe not in the best place, but all things considered, it’s moving along in a positive direction.”

Kinew said he’d like to see the company extend an olive branch to Premier Ford. He believes if Diageo can give Ford something for Ontario workers, there could be a resolution in the next few weeks.