The Ontario government is keeping important information about its significant collection of American alcohol products, valued at around $79.1 million, confidential. These products were removed from stores in response to the ongoing trade dispute between Canada and the U.S.
CBC News requested details from the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) regarding the fate, quantity, and disposal plans of the U.S. alcohol products withdrawn in March. The LCBO’s response to the request was delayed by 34 days past the legal 30-day limit. The disclosed documents, totaling 50 pages, were heavily edited, leaving out crucial information such as the amount of inventory at risk of expiration, the quantity destroyed, and the overall cost to taxpayers.
While the LCBO has kept these details under wraps, liquor authorities in Quebec, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia have been transparent about the status of their U.S. liquor stocks. The LCBO did reveal an estimated $2.9 million provision in its 2024-25 financial statements for potentially expiring products. However, the specific data supporting this provision was deemed “cabinet confidence.”
The LCBO stated that the U.S.-made alcohol products remain in storage due to government directives prompted by trade tensions, with only a minimal amount expiring thus far. James Turk, an expert on government transparency, criticized the LCBO’s classification of inventory information as cabinet confidence, arguing that operational data like alcohol quantities should not be shielded from the public.
Turk pointed out a pattern of secrecy within the Ontario government, referencing previous instances where information was withheld under the guise of cabinet confidentiality. Opposition leaders and experts like Turk have raised concerns about the lack of transparency in government actions, calling for greater openness in decision-making processes.
CBC News has initiated an appeal with the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario’s Office regarding the redactions made in the internal LCBO documents to shed light on the withheld information.
[Read the full article here.](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ontario-lcbo-us-alcohol-inventory-9.6961672)