HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-04-22, Page 1818 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, April 22, 2015
Beer, not wine, on Ontario grocery store shelves
CONTINUED FROM > PAGE 17
"Everything gets very compli-
cated," when dealing with big dis-
tributors, he said.
Darren Smith, head of Ontario
Craft Brewers, said it will be sta-
tus quo as far as variety store
sales go. "It's made pretty clear
that it's not going going to hap-
pen," he said.
According to Smith, 20% of the
shelf space in grocery stores will be
devoted to small brewers. "Slotting
fees at the grocery store are pro-
posed to be outlawed," he said of
the practice of buying space in gro-
cery outlets.
As for the beer ombudsman,
Smith imagines the position will be
given over to an independent per-
son who will investigate com-
plaints about the new system.
Khalil Aloul, owner of Westmin-
ster Variety in London, says he
believes businesses like his should
be allowed to sell beer and wine —
to compensate for the loss of
tobacco sales. "Why not? The
tobacco and smoking is going
down."
Aloul says it's been more than a
decade that the Ontario govern-
ment has been dancing around the
issue of beer in corner stores.
Regardless, Wynne painted the
move Thursday as a game
changer. "The days of monopoly
are done. This is the biggest shake
up to the sale of beer in Ontario
since we repealed prohibition in
this province and that was in
1927."
Critics suggested the changes to
the alcohol system were just beer
goggles through which to view the
real shakeup announced Thursday:
sale of a $9 -billion stake in publicly
owned Hydro One.
Progressive Conservative finance
critic Vic Fedeli predicted both
beer and electricity prices will rise
over time.
Hydro One doesn't set electricity
rates and prices for customers
"should" go down as a result of the
sale, Wynne said.
NDP Leader Andrea Horwath
said her party intends to fight the
sale of Hydro One, which she
predicted would be a financial
disaster for taxpayers and
ratepayers.
"People are maybe going to
have easier access to beer, but
they're not going to be able to
keep their beer cold because
they're not going to be able to
keep their fridge plugged in
because they won't be able to
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•
for
BILL BROWN
• Sun. April 26, 1-4p.m.
at the Seaforth Legion (downstairs)
Best Wishes Only Please
Love from Norah, Steve and Families,°
Betty, Ken and Families,
Bill, Lois and Families
uptake a, Diexence
to,
afford hydro," Horwath said.
The premier's handpicked public
assets council released its final
report Thursday on how to
"unlock" the value of Hydro One,
LCBO and Ontario Power Genera-
tion (OPG).
The council's "top priority" was
to improve beer retailing in the
province, and it suggested changes
in addition to grocery store sales to
make it easier to promote home-
grown craft brewers.
On Hydro One, the report calls
for the sale of 60% of the utility,
with no individual shareholder
able to purchase more than 10%.
"The province should proceed
immediately with a sale or merger
of its interests in Hydro One
Brampton Networks Inc. to or with
Enersource Corp., PowerStream
Holdings Inc. and Horizon Hold-
ings Inc.," the report says.
Clark said the province will lose
ongoing Hydro One income due to
the sale, at least $100 million to
$150 million annually, but will see
improvements in its overall bottom
line thanks to improved perfor-
mance by the economy.
The Wynne Liberals expect a
one-time windfall of about $4 bil-
lion for the Trillium Trust, and
another $5 billion will be used to
lower the debt in the electricity
system.
The Trillium Trust will be used to
pay for infrastructure such as tran-
sit and roads.
12 -Pack of
Brewing Changes
to Beer Market
1. Beer sales in up to
450 grocery stores.
2. New 50 -cent beer (tax) on two -
fours but price controls on most
popular brands until May, 12017.
3. LCBO allowed to do 10 -store
pilot project to sell 12 -packs.
4. Small restaurants/bars
to be able to buy beer at
the same, cheaper price
offered consumers.
5. Craft brewers with two pro-
duction sites to be allowed
to set up retail at both.
6. The Beer Store to open
ownership beyond three
foreign companies.
7. Grocery stores allowed
to purchase beer from
LCBO at big discount.
8. Grocery stores would sell
only six packs or less, and
have limited sale hours.
9. Extend Ontario Deposit
Return Program beyond 2017.
10. Create a "beer ombudsman."
11. Allow small brewers to
pool delivery, which is cur-
rently prohibited.
12. The Beer Store will invest
$100 million to upgrade stores.
(Source: Ontario government, Premier's
Advisory Council on Government Assets)
FIRST SEAFORTH HIPPO WRAPPING FUNDRAISER!
Happy Hippo Wrappers Needed!
All are welcome.
We ask volunteers to help wrap our "Healing Hippos".
Come and enjoy laughter, music and refreshments all while helping us package
our "Healing Hippos" for delivery to local seniors' residences and hospitals.
Everyone needs a smile!
• MEET BUTTERCUP, OUR MASCOT
• PENNY SALE • SILENT AUCTION
SUNDAY, APRIL 26, 2015 • AGRI-PLEX
SEAFORTH AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY
140 DUKE STREET, SEAFORTH, ONTARIO
(Beginning at 2PM with the Hippo Wrapping)
We believe that our "Healing Hippos"
bring smiles and smiles create HOPE
to those who need it the most.
Make a Difference
SHARE A SMILE!
Souper
Saturday
cooks up
cash for
Food Bank
Seaforth Food Bank
Special to the Expositor
Another great day in the
neighborhood!!
Souper Saturday in Seaforth was
a huge success. We raised over
$6,0000 for the Seaforth & District
Food Bank.
The winner in the category of
Best Creamed was The Docks of
Bayfield.
Best Clear was Betty Small of
Sally's Closet and for the first
time we had a tie for People's
Choice: Brenda Campbell of Cold -
well Banker and Kendra Jewitt of
Blooms and Rooms.
All of the soups this year were
amazing.
The quality and complexity
continue to challenge our
pallets. Our judges had a diffi-
cult time determining the win-
ners, as all the soups were
so good.
Our thanks go out to the
cooks, judges, volunteers and
the people of our great commu-
nity for their support. See
you all next Spring when we get
to do it all again......start
cooking!!
lea I SEAFORTH
OPTIMISTS
2015 TRAVEL THE WORLD
& CASH LOTTERY
APRIL WINNERS
TRIP VOUCHER TO ARUBA
Gary & Ann Cronin
$100 CONSOLATION
• Ralph Smith
• Val Shortreed
ALL YOU CAN EAT
SOUP & SALAD
LUNCH
Wednesday
April 29, 2015
11:30 am to 1:00 pm
$8 All You Can Eat
ST. THOMAS ANGLICAN CHURCH
SEAFORTH
EVERYONE WELCOME-