Ontario directs LCBO to remove all Russian-made products from shelves
The Ontario government has directed the LCBO to remove all products produced in Russia from store shelves.
"The people of Ontario will always stand against tyranny and oppression," Finance Minister Peter Bethlenfalvy said in a statement Friday afternoon. "We will continue to be there for the Ukrainian people during this extremely difficult time."
The LCBO is one of the world's largest buyers of booze, importing alcohol from 80 countries and carries at least six brands of Russian vodka.
In a statement Friday afternoon, the LCBO confirmed they would be removing Russian-made products effective immediately.
"All products produced in Russia will be removed from LCBO sales channels," the statement said. "The LCBO stands with Ukraine, its people, and the Ukrainian Canadian community here in Ontario."
This includes the LCBO's 679 stores, online sales, and the LCBO Convenience Outlets.
Premier Doug Ford said the discussion about removing Russian-made products began on Thursday, after the government noticed calls for boycotts on social media, and the LCBO received concerned comments from customers about products on store shelves.
Liberal Leader Steven Del Duca also wrote a letter to LCBO President George Soleas asking him to pull several brands of Russian vodka from store shelves to show support for Ukraine.
"Any and all means of cutting off Russia's economy should be considered. Both provincially and federally," Del Duca said.
In 2021, the provincially owned liquor retailer removed a vodka brand from its 660 stores following complaints that the product’s name resembled that of the Soviet Union dictator Joseph Stalin.
At that time Ontario's Ukrainian community sent letters to the LCBO to stop the sale of Stalinskaya Silver Vodka made in Romania, saying the name stirs up dreaded memories associated with the Soviet Union and Stalin.
Meanwhile, Ford is calling for the federal government to accelerate the process of accepting more Ukrainian refugees that are fleeing the chaos in their country.
"These are brave women and men who more than anything need safe harbour right now," Ford said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'A beautiful soul': Funeral held for baby boy killed in wrong-way crash on Highway 401
A funeral was held on Wednesday for a three-month-old boy who died after being involved in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 in Whitby last week.
Police handcuff man trying to enter Drake's Toronto mansion
Toronto police say a man was taken into custody outside Drake's Bridle Path mansion Wednesday afternoon after he tried to gain access to the residence.
Biden says he will stop sending bombs and artillery shells to Israel if they launch major invasion of Rafah
U.S. President Joe Biden said for the first time Wednesday he would halt shipments of American weapons to Israel, which he acknowledged have been used to kill civilians in Gaza, if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah.
U.S. presidential candidate RFK Jr. had a brain worm, has recovered, campaign says
Independent U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had a parasite in his brain more than a decade ago, but has fully recovered, his campaign said, after the New York Times reported about the ailment.
Ontario Provincial Police arrest 64 suspects in child sexual exploitation investigation
Ontario Provincial Police say 64 suspects are facing a combined 348 charges in connection with a series of child sexual exploitation investigations that spanned the province.
Pfizer agrees to settle more than 10K lawsuits over Zantac cancer risk: Bloomberg News
Pfizer has agreed to settle more than 10,000 lawsuits about cancer risks related to the now discontinued heartburn drug Zantac, Bloomberg News reported on Wednesday, citing people familiar with the deal.
Quebec premier defends new museum on Quebecois nation after Indigenous criticism
Quebec Premier Francois Legault is defending his comments about a new history museum after he was accused by a prominent First Nations group of trying to erase their history.
Blind Sask. boy heading to international braille competition hopes to increase accessibility for visually impaired
A Saskatchewan boy who qualified for an international braille competition in Los Angeles next month hopes he can inspire change in his home province.
'A step forward': New screening criteria for sperm donors takes effect
Canadians looking to grow their families with the assistance of sperm or egg donations should soon have more options for donors as the federal health agency does away with longstanding restrictions criticized as discriminatory.