In the aftermath of Ford Fest, a faithful fan wants a word with Doug Ford.

While there’s still time to save him from himself.

Brian Ruse couldn’t make it down from Barrie on his Yamaha motorcycle for Saturday’s annual summer party for the people, thrown by the premier of the people. Nor is he inclined to pester Ford on his cellphone, despite the open invitation for any and all Ontarians to call or text, day or night.

But he is desperate to send a message. Hence his heartfelt email to the premier’s office earlier this month, urging Ford to give “some sober thought” to one of the biggest time bombs facing Canada’s biggest province.

Yes, it’s about beer. Not buck-a-beer, but fear of a billion dollar Beer Store boondoggle if Ford breaks a signed contract with big brewers, provoking unprecedented litigation with his unjustified legislation.

“Hello Mr. Ford,” Ruse’s email begins. “With all due respect to you, your position and especially the memory of your late brother (whom I thought was friggin' great), I am now writing my first letter to a politician.”

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His first and possibly his last, because his letter went nowhere — no acknowledgment, no reply. When he didn’t hear back, Ruse reached out to me for help in getting his message out to the premier and a wider public.

And so, as a public service, let us try to bring these two soulmates together. Why not help one of Ford’s biggest boosters speak truth to power?

Despite my past columns crusading against the Beer Store’s stranglehold, arguing for beer in supermarkets (but not mini-marts), I agree with Ruse that it’s a waste of time and money to reopen a closed deal. Small beer can cost big bucks.

Which is why Ruse, 57, who has worked most of his life as a property manager, is keen to protect the public interest and the public purse. Not to mention the premier’s political hide.

Yes, he want beer in convenience stores. But not at any price.

Not when, upon reflection, getting beer isn’t so inconvenient these days, now that it’s available in 450 supermarkets (plus 450 Beer Stores, 660 LCBOs and 210 agency outlets, plus 200 more on the way) — thanks to a 10-year transitional deal negotiated by former TD Bank chief executive Ed Clark on behalf of the last Liberal government. Ripping up that 2015 deal could expose the province to hundreds of millions of dollars in damages, legal experts say.

“I am absolutely not in favour of what it will cost me, my neighbours, my friends and every other taxpayer in our awesome province,” Ruse tells the premier.

It’s not just the big waste of money. Turns out that finding beer isn’t such a waste of time.

“I have been calculating my route home from work, on my way to the cottage, on my way to a friends place, etc. to pass by a Beer Store to pick up a six pack (or more) for decades. And in hindsight, I've never really been put out too far: sometimes you have to go out of your way but that’s usually bad planning, or due to circumstance and geography. But you know, having to go out of your way is not always catastrophic: inconvenient, but not catastrophic ...

“That (contract) expiry date will one day come, the clock keeps ticking no matter what we do. So wait ... just wait. Don't spend any money, don’t introduce legislation to override the contract (embarrassing on the world stage), don’t do a damn thing: just say that ... after some sober thought, you will leave the issue to die on the vine.”

Wait just a few years until 2025, Ruse implores the premier, “You can always say that Brian from Barrie smacked you upside the head ... You are a natural-born leader, prove it. Ditch this idea: it's not worth the price so I can stop at my local Mac’s instead of one kilometre away at the LCBO on my way home at a bazillion-dollar cost. Leaders show flexibility, a sense of balance, and a whacking amount of common sense.

“Be a leader.”

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When I replied to Ruse, and he told me that the premier’s office hadn’t, I asked if he had any final advice for Ford. After all, we’re here to help.

“If Ford really represents the people, he can’t ignore this ... it will become a huge piece of ammunition for the opposition next election,” he told me.

If the premier’s office can’t find Ruse’s eloquent email in its files, and Ford belatedly wants to follow up — it’s never too late to talk to the people — we’d be happy to put them in touch. Ruse is standing by his premier, and the Toronto Star is standing by to connect them.

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