Finance Minister Charles Sousa says he’s not buying the foreign-owned Beer Store’s argument that it’s a not-for-profit operation.

“They will argue that they are a not-for-profit organization and we argue that there is some profit in there so we want to make sure that’s distributed accordingly,” he told reporters Friday in Toronto where he launched his pre-budget consultations Friday.

Beer Store spokesperson Jeff Newton insists it operates on a break-even basis and that the premier’s special council on government assets has confirmed this.

“The government continues to recognize that the Beer Store is a highly efficient system that has benefits for consumers. And the premier’s council on government assets has confirmed the Beer Store operates on a ‘break-even basis.’ We look forward to more discussions that will help retain those elements of the current system,” Newton said in an email statement.

Premier Kathleen Wynne has said Ontario consumers should expect a rethink of the government’s relationship with the 448-outlet Beer Store owned by the foreign parent companies of Labatt, Molson and Sleeman.

Former TD Bank chair Ed Clark, who was at Queen’s Park on Friday, is leading Wynne’s advisory council on government assets. He has recommended the province charge the Beer Store a “franchise fee,” a cost the companies would not be allowed to pass on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Should these giant brewers refuse, Clark says the province could strip them of their monopoly.

As well, he says the government-owned LCBO should be allowed to sell 12-packs.

Under the terms of a secret 2000 deal between the LCBO and the Beer Store, which was revealed by the Star last month, the more lucrative 12-packs and 24-packs cannot be sold at liquor stores.

That accord, which is subject of a complaint to the federal Competition Bureau by Restaurants Canada, also dictates that bars and restaurants must buy directly from the brewers at higher prices than ordinary consumers pay.

Besides that, the private monopoly is facing two court challenges.

The Beer Store issued a press release Friday arguing that some of the efficiencies realized from its 448 outlets Beer Store are offset by taxes and lower prices to consumers.

It noted that in 2013 Ontario had a $3.58 higher tax per case, plus a 65 cent lower average retail price per case than Quebec.

“That means that on average brewers collected $4.23 less per case on beer sold through the Beer Store than through Quebec corner and grocery stores, an amount that is greater than the Beer Store’s lower costs,” the release stated.

“These data illustrate that the Beer Store’s efficiencies are not flowing to brewers as higher profits — they are flowing to government as high taxes and consumers as lower prices.”

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Last month, amidst Wynne’s threats to dismantle the beer monopoly unless more money pours into the treasury and small brewers are given greater access, the Beer Store opened up its ownership to Ontario craft brewers.

The major breweries will still control the company’s board of directors with Molson and Labatt, which each own 46 per cent, having five seats apiece, Sleeman, an 8 per cent owner, with two seats, the larger craft brewers getting two seats, and the small brewers one.