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LIVE: Vic Fedeli, Minister of Finance, delivers remarks at the @Empire_Club about restoring trust, transparency and accountability in government.

https://t.co/PD6xdYymKQ — Victor Fedeli (@VictorFedeli) March 28, 2019

The LCBO, which handles much of the retail alcohol market, is publicly owned. The minister noted Quebec has more than 8,000 retail stores selling alcohol, while Newfoundland has 21 outlets for every 10,000 adults in the province.

“In Ontario, any guesses? Less than 3,000. So we have our work cut out for us,” he said.

Fedeli’s comments arrive just ahead of his April 11 budget.

NDP Leader Andrea Horwath said the public doesn’t yet know what the price will be to taxpayers of allowing alcohol sales in corner stores, including the financial impact of an agreement with foreign-owned The Beer Store, which limits beer sale competition.

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“The premier needs to come clean on what the cost of breaking another contract is,” she said. “We saw what happens when a government breaks contracts.”

Government House Leader Todd Smith said he can’t comment on whether expanded beer and wine sales will be in the coming budget, but confirmed they have been looking hard at how alcohol is sold in Ontario.

The government wants to make sure the proposal is thoroughly reviewed before rolling it out, including looking at issues that have been raised in corner stores like sales to youth, Smith said.

“This is an election promise that the premier made and that our government made,” Smith said. “We’re really, really working on that because we think it’s important to the people of Ontario.”

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