New report disputes Fedeli’s claim of increased sales, jobs with selling beer at corner stores

By Richard Southern

Ontario Finance Minister Vic Fedeli is defending tearing up a 10-year agreement with The Beer Store, in part by citing a recent Retail Council of Canada (RCC) report that found selling beer in corner stores would create 9,000 jobs and lower beer prices.

The minister has repeatedly stressed that he considered the report to be independent.

A separate report released Monday by Ken Hughes, the province’s special advisor for the Beverage Alcohol Review, also cited the Retail Council in proving the government’s case for expanded alcohol sales.

However, Karl Littler, a senior spokesperson at the Retail Council, told 680 NEWS in an interview earlier this month that the council’s report was anything but independent. He noted that the council is employed by grocery chains who may stand to benefit from expanded beer sales.

“We represent the grocers to be clear … we’re not suggesting it’s an independent report,” Littler said.

He did add that the report was not was commissioned by the government, “It’s independent from the government,” he stressed.

Meantime, The Beer Store released new analysis from Ankura Consulting Group on Tuesday that looks to debunk the Retail Council report.

“The RCC report is flawed as it’s based on cherry-picked data and incorrect analysis that has no predictive value about prices, jobs or GDP growth in Ontario,” the report states.

The Ford government has already tabled legislation, but The Beer Store said it will fight it in court.

The province could also be hook for the contract’s cancellation, which could cost close to $1 billion.

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