It’s not much, but it’s a start

Sell Ontario wine, beer at corner stores, MPP urges:

If one Ontario politician has his way, locally produced beer and wine will be sold at convenience stores across the province. But not everyone is bubbling with excitement over his proposal.

Liberal MPP Kim Craitor, who represents Niagara Falls, introduced a private member’s bill Tuesday calling for a proposed law change on the sale of alcohol in corner stores. The bill passed first reading by a vote of 52 to 8.

It seems the intention of this legislation is more based upon economic nationalism than anything else, but I can get behind anything that loosens the government’s monopoly on alcohol sales. I don’t think it will pass, though, as the premier seems to be against it. I had a bit of a laugh when I read this:

“They [parents] enjoy the fact that they feel tremendous confidence knowing that it’s really tough if you’re underage in Ontario to buy wine or beer or liquor from the LCBO or Beer Store,” said McGuinty.

Yeah, underage drinking is pretty much non-existent in Ontario, thanks to the LCBO. I guess if he feels that way about the competence of corner stores owners, the government should have a monopoly on cigarette sales, too, eh?