The letter comes just days after the Ontario Chamber of Commerce sent a letter to Finance Minister Vic Fedeli expressing similar concerns. Fedeli has repeatedly referred to The Beer Store contact as a “sweetheart deal” and a monopoly that does not benefit consumers.
As a legal battle between the owners of The Beer Store — Molson, Labatt and Sleeman — brews, it remains unclear what the price could be to Ontario taxpayers.
Scrapping the 10-year contract could result in serious financial penalties, however when he has been questioned about those penalties, Fedeli has said legislation to cancel the deal will nullify any such costs.
In his letter, Herrington also wrote: “This, in turn, could undermine the constructive work you and your government have done and the case the Ford government has made that the province is open for business.”
“We thus strongly urge your government to work with all corporate stakeholders in the ‘Bringing Choice and Fairness to the People Act’ process to ensure that a resolution amenable to all parties is achieved in a manner that upholds your government’s heretofore strong commitment to making the private sector an engine of the province’s growth.”Fedeli responded to the letter in a statement Wednesday morning.
“A deal like this should never have been signed,” he said. “Our Parliamentary system ensures that a new government is not bound by a bad deal signed by a previous government that hurts the people of Ontario … This plan is good for Ontario and good for business. The US Chamber of Commerce, and all chambers of commerce, should be encouraged by our government’s tax reforms and plan to reduce red tape.”
WATCH: (May 28) Brewery applauds Ford government for potential Beer Store contract termination
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