Will marijuana be the next unionized crown corporation monopoly?

The LCBO’s labour union is threatening to go on strike in the coming weeks. This news comes shortly after several government officials including Anne McLellan, Bill Blair, and even the PM have given us clues about what cannabis reform will look like. It has been said that like alcohol, the Provinces will get to decide on the distribution model, and rumours of LCBO involvement have been going around ever since.

Last June the Toronto Star reported that “Warren Thomas, president of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU), which represents LCBO workers, has repeatedly emphasized that his members are best equipped to sell marijuana safely.” This is not the only time Thomas has been cited expressing his point of view on the matter.

The irony that selling marijuana could in the future be legally done by an organization that does not report it’s earnings to the CRA or the public is absolutely hilarious, and yet, makes a single patriotic tear roll down my cheek.

As for Wynn, after stating about a year ago that “we’re in a grey area right now,” her ideas have gone from very in favour, to unsure, when discussing the possibility of handing control to the LCBO.

Here’s what’s wrong with the current model:

1. The LCBO is the largest purchaser of alcohol in the world. Despite this, prices are incredibly high compared to practically every other Province and Western democracy.

2. Where does the money go? Robert Peter, the CEO of the LCBO, a crown corporation (and therefore publicly reported), earned over $440,000 and received $18,984 in benefits in 2015.

3. Canada’s unions (OPSEU included) are currently not required to submit any public financial disclosures to the CRA, let alone the public, and pay no tax on their investment income.

4. When Alberta moved away from the government monopoly model, government revenues instantly went up.

Ontario was the only province to have never received equalization payments until 2009, 6 years after the same Liberal caucus that still rules over this land took power. What ever happened to just KEEPING IT BEAUTIFUL!!?? Well we don't even have that anymore, do we.

Enough is enough.

It’s time to own up to the mistakes that were made and to learn from them. We need a liberal market, not a Liberal Party market. We want legalization to impact society as positively as possible. Tell Kathleen Wynn and her Liberal cabinet not to give in to OPSEU's demands, cannabis related or not, and to create a fair market environment that will benefit Canadian taxpayers and consumers, not unions and crown corporation executives.