Montreal/Toronto (Rajeev Sharma) —Days after Manitoba raised objections, Quebec has also voiced concern over Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s plan to remove Crown Royal whisky from shelves at provincially run liquor stores, warning the move could harm Canadian supply chains at a sensitive economic moment.
Quebec Finance Minister Eric Girard said he has formally conveyed his concerns to his Ontario counterpart, arguing that with ongoing trade tensions involving the United States, governments should avoid actions that weaken domestic production networks or create further uncertainty for Canadian industries.
Ontario’s planned move targets Crown Royal whisky bottled in Amherstburg, Ont., following a decision by its parent company, UK-based spirits giant Diageo, to permanently shut down the Amherstburg bottling plant next month. The closure will result in the loss of about 200 unionized jobs.
The boycott threat has already drawn criticism from Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew, who urged Ford to reconsider in order to protect Crown Royal operations elsewhere in Canada, particularly the bottling and distillation facility in Gimli, Man. Kinew recently reiterated his appeal, stressing the importance of maintaining interprovincial cooperation and safeguarding Canadian manufacturing.
Diageo listed the Amherstburg property for sale in late 2025. In December, workers at the plant ratified a closure agreement that includes enhanced severance and transition supports.
The company has maintained that Crown Royal production will remain rooted in Canada, noting that the whisky will continue to be mashed, distilled and aged domestically. Diageo said the Amherstburg shutdown is intended to shift some bottling operations closer to its primary U.S. consumer base, while preserving a significant Canadian footprint through facilities in Manitoba, Quebec and the Greater Toronto Area.
The Amherstburg plant has bottled Crown Royal since 1971, making it a longstanding fixture in Ontario’s manufacturing sector. Critics of the proposed Ontario boycott argue that removing the product from liquor store shelves could have unintended consequences for workers and suppliers across multiple provinces, rather than pressuring the multinational company to reverse its decision.
