A cross-provincial dispute has emerged between Ontario and Manitoba, testing the solidarity of Canada’s unified trade approach against US tariffs. The conflict centers on Diageo’s Crown Royal whiskey, a British-owned Canadian brand, following the company’s decision to shutter its Ontario bottling facility after fifty years of operation.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford launched a vehement protest against Diageo’s restructuring plan, which aims to optimize North American supply chains by moving bottling operations closer to US consumers. In a dramatic display of disapproval, Ford publicly emptied a bottle of Crown Royal before journalists and vowed to remove the product from provincial liquor stores—a significant threat given that the Liquor Board of Ontario is North America’s largest alcohol wholesaler.
Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew responded with a diplomatic appeal during a symbolic visit to the Crown Royal distillery in Gimli, a town of 2,300 where the facility is a major employer. Kinew urged Ford to reconsider his boycott, warning that the move could harm Canadian workers and undermine interprovunity unity. “When we’re talking about Team Canada, we have to stay united across the provinces,” Kinew stated.
The disagreement highlights tensions between provincial protectionism and national cohesion. While Ford’s stance has garnered support from local unions representing over 200 affected workers in Amherstburg, Kinew emphasized that Gimli’s workforce is equally Canadian and deserving of protection. Kinew invited Ford to resolve the dispute over an ice hockey game between Toronto and Winnipeg, though Ford has yet to commit to the meeting.
Despite appeals, Ford remains firm, asserting he will not reconsider his position. The situation continues to develop as both provinces navigate economic priorities and intergovernmental relations amid ongoing trade uncertainties.