Premier Doug Ford dumped a bottle of Crown Royal whiskey Tuesday, as he blasted Diageo for closing its Amherstburg plant.
The beverage company announced its plans to close the Amherstburg bottling facility in February 2026. The closure will cost around 170 people their jobs.
Ford said he spoke with the company over the weekend to offer incentives to keep the facility in Amherstburg, but the company declined.
"A message to the CEO in France, you hurt my people, I'm going to hurt you. You are going to feel the pain in February when these people don't have a paycheque and I am going to stand up for the people of Ontario," said Ford.
As he unscrewed the bottle and dumped it in front of the podium, Ford asked how the company could close the plant when Ontario LCBOs are its largest customer.
"Have you lost your mind? I think they're a few fries short of a Happy Meal, these people. They're sitting around, absolutely just smug as they come. They are hurting Ontario residents," continued Ford.
In its news release issued last Thursday, the company said it "appreciates" the Amherstburg employees, but the move is necessary to "improving the efficiency and resiliency of our supply chain network."
The company indicated that all whisky destined for Canada and non-U.S. export markets will be bottled in Valleyfield, Quebec after the transition.