Striking a conciliatory tone about the Progressive Conservative government’s push to liberalize the sale of beer and wine, Finance Minister Rod Phillips says he will be meeting with the major breweries within days.

That’s in hope of achieving a compromise to avoid taxpayers being stuck with up to $1 billion in financial penalties for breaking the province’s 10-year deal with the Beer Store.

“We promised that we will make beer and wine more available and we will do that, but we’re going to do that in a purposeful way,” said Phillips.

“We have a lot of priorities in our government and we’re going to make sure we keep all our commitments, but, again, there’s a complex web of stakeholders,” the treasurer said Thursday.

“I am working constructively with them and we will be moving forward on that in a purposeful way and I do believe that you will be able to get your favourite brand in a corner store,” he said, “but we’ll do that in a way that makes sense.”

Phillips said he will be meeting with representatives of Molson, Labatt and Sleeman at the end of the month to discuss the issue.

“They’re one of a number of stakeholders we need to work with around liberalizing alcohol availability ... to bring Ontario into line with the rest of the country,” he said.

His comments were in contrast to the fiery moves from predecessor Vic Fedeli, who Premier Doug Ford demoted to economic development minister in the June 20 cabinet shuffle.

Fedeli passed legislation to unilaterally cancel an accord with the major brewers inked by the previous Liberal government in 2015, which limited the number of supermarkets where beer and wine could be sold to 450 locations.

That controversial law, which raised the ire of the United States Chamber of Commerce, has yet to be enacted.

Under terms of the “master framework agreement” that was to be in place until 2025, the treasury could be on the hook for $1 billion in penalties paid to the major brewers for axing the deal.

The U.S. chamber, the world’s largest business organization with three million members, warned the Tories were “sending a negative signal to U.S. and other international investors about the business and investment climate in Ontario.”

Former premier Kathleen Wynne’s Liberals expanded beer sales to about one-third of Ontario supermarkets in 2015, but thousands more corner shops and big box outlets were left out in the cold.

Because Molson, Labatt and Sleeman are owned by companies based in the U.S., Belgium and Japan, Ontario’s legislation could expose Canadian taxpayers to challenges under international trade deals.

The Beer Store is currently “pursuing ... legal options” against Ford’s government.

On Tuesday, the federal Competition Bureau backed the Tories’ plan.

“Ontario consumers and businesses can benefit from a less restrictive system — one that provides retailers an equal opportunity to participate, encourages price competition, and supports proper wholesale pricing,” wrote the bureau’s commissioner of competition, Matthew Boswell.

“I commend your efforts to review liquor policy in the province and to ensure a level playing field for businesses and greater choice and lower prices for consumers,” Boswell told Phillips in a letter.

While the proposed changes would not affect the government-owned Liquor Control Board of Ontario, which will keep its monopoly for the sale of spirits and most wine, the Competition Bureau is concerned about the LCBO.

“Under the current pricing scheme for licensees, bars and restaurants do not benefit from proper wholesale pricing and must purchase from LCBO and the Beer Store at consumer-level retail prices. This drives up prices for consumers, as establishments must add a markup on the retail prices to generate a profit,” wrote Boswell.

“Further, Ontario’s bars and restaurants are limited to the selection available through the LCBO and the Beer Store. Distribution and warehouse capacity constraints limit the range of products available. This can restrict new and innovative producers’ ability to market their products and limit consumers’ choice.”

Meanwhile, Ford said last month that he’s hopeful “to come up with a great deal for everyone.”

“We want to work with the Beer Store and we want to make sure that we commit to the promise that we made to have wine and beer in the corner store,” the premier said July 23 in Lucan, outside London.

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Another Tory minister, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss internal business, said it was helpful Phillips is turning down the temperature on the beer issue.

“People want it to happen — they like the idea and they want to see it in corner stores — but they don’t want to pay $1 billion to do it,” said the minister.

“And they’re sure sick of us talking about it all the time,” the cabinet member added.