WHO IS FORD HURTING??

 

Is Fords Crown Royal Ban Hurting Canada ??

1. Bottling: Canada vs. The U.S.

 Diageo (the parent company) has explicitly stated their new logistics plan starting in February 2026:

• For the U.S. Market: Bottling is moving to the United States (specifically Alabama and other sites) to be closer to their largest customer base.

• For Canada & International Markets: Bottling is being consolidated at the Valleyfield, Quebec facility.

• The Constant: Regardless of where it is bottled, the "spirit" itself—the mashing, distilling, and aging—remains 100% in Gimli, Manitoba.

2. Is Ford "Hurting" Other Provinces?

This is the argument being made by Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew and various labor unions. By banning Crown Royal from the LCBO (the largest single purchaser of alcohol in North America), Ford is effectively attacking a product that is still fundamentally Canadian.

• Impact on Manitoba: Every bottle of Crown Royal starts in Gimli. If Ontario stops buying the whisky, demand for the Gimli distillery's output drops. This threatens the jobs of the 80+ workers in Manitoba and the local farmers who provide the rye and grain.

• Impact on Quebec: Since Valleyfield is now the hub for all Canadian-sold Crown Royal, a ban in Ontario (Canada's largest provincial market) directly reduces the volume of work for the Quebec bottling plant.

Why Ford is Doubling Down

Despite the pleas from Manitoba and Quebec, Premier Ford has remained firm for two reasons:

1. Skepticism: Ford has publicly stated he believes Diageo is lying. He claims that once the Ontario plant is gone, the company will eventually move the Manitoba and Quebec operations to the U.S. as well. He famously told reporters, "It’s all going to Alabama, mark my words."

2. Political Message: He is using the LCBO as a "weapon" to send a message to other multinational corporations: if you close a major plant in Ontario, you will lose access to the Ontario market.

The "Team Canada" Conflict: Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew has called the move "shooting ourselves in the foot," arguing that at a time when Canada should be united against U.S. tariffs, Ontario is instead starting a "civil war" over a Canadian-made product.