More than a hundred employees with Ontario’s primary liquor retailer took to the streets of downtown Toronto on Saturday to rally public support for a historic strike that’s shuttered most stores for at least two weeks.
Thousands of workers with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario walked off the job on Friday after negotiations between the employer and their union failed to produce a new deal, launching the first such labour disruption in the organization’s history.
The Ontario Public Service Employees Union has said workers are concerned by Premier Doug Ford’s plan to expand the alcohol market, adding existing plans to allow convenience stores and all grocery stores to sell beer, wine and ready-to-drink cocktails could result in job losses. OPSEU is also advocating for wage increases and more full-time positions, saying 70 per cent of members currently hold part-time and casual roles.
Store clerk Uriel Barnett, who attended Saturday’s rally, said he’s passionate about his work but wants a fair deal for himself and his colleagues.
“We’re fighting for our job security, and we’re also fighting to make sure that we serve the public,” said the 59-year-old.
“I love my job. I don’t want the premier of this province to just give away taxpayers’ money to his friends at big box stores.”
Barnett said he’s spent the last two years as a casual worker — a category of employee he said has no guaranteed work hours and a lower pay scale compared to permanent, full-time employees.
“Sometimes you might get some shifts, sometimes you might not get some shifts. We’re at the mercy of the schedule,” he said.
The LCBO said about half of casual workers are guaranteed at least 1,000 working hours a year. It said its most recent proposal responded to a number of the workers’ demands but the union did not make a counter-offer.
“We remain hopeful that we can quickly reach an agreement that is fair to our employees, while enabling the LCBO’s continued success in a changing marketplace,” it said in a statement emailed Saturday.
At least 150 people attended the rally, juggling umbrellas to ward off the rain with signs urging the government to keep liquor sales public.
Retail worker Chris Stefan said the expansion of alcohol sales will reduce the $2.5 billion the LCBO contributes annually to provincial coffers, which he argued will divert funds from public services like health care and education to private corporations.
“That’s money for building roads and hospitals that Doug Ford wants to privatize and give to billionaires instead,” said Stefan, who’s in his early 30s
Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy issued a statement on Friday saying the government is “more committed than ever” to its plan.
“We are particularly disappointed that OPSEU is opposed to giving people in Ontario the choice and convenience of buying readymade drinks, like coolers and seltzers, in grocery and convenience stores,” he wrote.
The first step of the expansion plan is set to start in less than a month, when grocery stores that already sell beer and wine will be able to sell ready-to-drink cocktails. Convenience stores can start selling beer, wine, cider and ready-to-drink cocktails on Sept. 5. The Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario said Friday it has already issued 2,813 convenience store licences.
Anneka Kindrachuk, a casual worker with the LCBO for the past five years, argued privatizing the alcohol market could lead to increased sales to intoxicated or underage consumers, as LCBO employees receive training to sell alcohol responsibly.
“We have to make a lot of judgment calls on who’s fit to be served and who’s not. A big part of the job is social responsibility,” said the 24-year-old.
“If (alcohol sales) are privatized, there might be more emphasis on profit. So, they’ll be serving intoxicated people. I don’t think that’s good for our health and for our society.”
LCBO retail locations are expected to stay closed for at least 14 days, though convenience outlets in smaller communities will remain open and online ordering is available with product limits in place.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 6, 2024.
TORONTO – Magna International Inc. says it has launched a targeted review of its historical records in response to sexual assault charges against founder Frank Stronach.
Magna spokeswoman Tracy Fuerst says the review process is complicated because of the passage of time.
Fuerst says that if relevant information is found, the company, which is not facing any criminal or civil allegations, will follow a strict protocol to respect the legal rights of all and co-operate with authorities.
To date, the auto parts company’s internal document review has discovered one settlement involving a historical harassment allegation against Stronach and Magna Entertainment Corp. that had already been reported.
Stronach gave up control of Magna in 2010 and stepped down as chairman in 2012.
He faces charges including rape, attempted rape, indecent assault, forcible confinement and sexual assault in connection with alleged incidents that date as far back as 1977. Stronach has said he is not guilty and that he will fight the charges.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.
CALGARY – Enbridge Inc. says it will spend about US$700 million to build new crude oil and natural gas pipelines in the U.S. Gulf of Mexico for the Kaskida development, operated by BP Exploration & Production Co.
The crude oil pipeline, named the Canyon Oil Pipeline System, will have a capacity of 200,000 barrels per day and originate in the Keathley Canyon area of the gulf.
It will deliver crude to the existing Green Canyon 19 platform, operated by Shell Pipeline Co. LP for ultimate delivery to the Louisiana market.
The natural gas pipeline, named the Canyon Gathering System, will have a capacity of 125 million cubic feet per day.
It will connect to Enbridge’s existing Magnolia Gas Gathering Pipeline.
The company says detailed design and procurement activities are expected to start early next year with the pipelines expected to be operational by 2029.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 3, 2024.
CALGARY – TC Energy Corp. has completed its spinoff of South Bow Corp., its crude oil pipelines business, as an independent company.
The new company, which will be headquartered in Calgary with an office in Houston, will be led by Bevin Wirzba, formerly the executive vice-president for TC Energy’s natural gas and liquids pipelines business.
South Bow will run TC Energy’s crude oil pipelines business, including the critical Keystone pipeline system.
The move is the result of a strategic review in which the Calgary-based TC considered its options including the potential sale of the oil pipelines business.
Spinning off the oil pipelines business, which has long-term committed contracts with oil shippers, will give South Bow the chance to use its robust cash flows to pay down debt and enhance shareholder returns, while TC Energy will become a growth-oriented company focused on natural gas.
TC Energy — which has natural gas transportation infrastructure in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico — is bullish on the future of the commodity, in particular the potential for growth spurred by demand for liquefied natural gas (LNG).
TC Energy also has plans to look at new, low-carbon energy opportunities such as nuclear and pumped hydro energy storage.
The company has been under scrutiny by analysts and credit ratings for its significant debt load as well as for cost overruns on the Coastal GasLink pipeline project, which was completed in the fall of 2023.
TC Energy shareholders voted in favour of the spinoff of the crude pipelines business in a vote in June.
South Bow common shares were distributed Tuesday to TC Energy shareholders of record on Sept. 25. Shareholders received one South Bow common share for every five TC Energy common shares owned.
South Bow’s common shares are expected to start trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange on Wednesday under the ticker symbol SOBO. Trading on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to start on or about Oct. 8.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 1, 2024.
