Conservative MP James Bezan of Manitoba criticized Ontario Premier Doug Ford for threatening to remove Crown Royal from liquor store shelves without having all the necessary information. Bezan, representing the Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman area where Crown Royal is produced, emphasized that the whisky is a proud Manitoba-made product and Canada’s top export spirit. He urged Ford to reconsider his stance with a better understanding of the situation.
Crown Royal is distilled at Diageo’s facility in Gimli, Manitoba. Despite Diageo’s decision to close the bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ontario, Ford reiterated his intention to remove Crown Royal from Ontario shelves once the plant shuts down in February. Diageo clarified that production for Canadian and non-U.S. markets would continue at its plant in Valleyfield, Quebec.
In response, Bezan warned of potential retaliation from Manitoba, particularly targeting Ontario wine sales. Manitoba officials stressed the importance of supporting Canadian products and local jobs, with the Gimli municipality emphasizing Crown Royal’s contribution to the regional economy. Critics, including business professor Barry Prentice, questioned the rationale behind Ford’s actions, expressing concerns about escalating interprovincial tensions.