Details of Wynne Liberals’ LCBO sale plan exposed
QUEEN’S PARK – Ontario PC Finance Critic Vic Fedeli is demanding answers from the Wynne Liberals after he exposed an LCBO document detailing plans to sell 250 store locations in the Legislature today.
The document dated February 24 – one day before the Ontario budget was released — outlines a Request for Proposals (RFP) issued by the LCBO seeking a real estate vendor to sell the store locations right across the province.
“Section 3.2.1 states ‘the LCBO’s main intention is to sell properties’ and 3.2.3 says the LCBO will consider leasing out properties that are deemed unsaleable or if they can generate high revenue from a tenant,” Fedeli said in Question Period.
“Speaker, can the Minister tell us just how much money he expects the sale to bring in for the province, what will happen to these LCBO locations, and how many jobs will be cut or otherwise affected as a result of the sale?” asked Fedeli.
After failing to receive a direct answer to the question, Fedeli also noted that it’s curious that this RFP went out before the budget was released, yet none of the details on locations or jobs affected or financial impacts of this plan were included in the budget.
“Is this more Liberal furniture-burning to heat the home? Is this another part of the Liberal plan to balance their budget? I ask the Minister – why were you keeping details of this sale of LCBO stores secret from the people of Ontario?” Fedeli asked.
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