The shelves of LCBO now have a slimmer selection with no more US products. In front of the empty spaces left behind, the LCBO had put up signs explaining why the products were missing, saying “for the good of Ontario, for the good of Canada.”
Signs are posted in front of empty shelves at a London LCBO letting customers know why the products were removed (credit: XFM News).
Ontario Premier Doug Ford made good on his threats to remove American products on Tuesday after U.S. President Donald Trump moved forward with 25 per cent tariffs on Canadian goods. Even though Trump backed down and paused most of them on Thursday, Ontario has not signalled that they will be putting the alcohol back on the shelf.
It may also be good for local brewers. When Ford first announced he would remove American brands, Ontario Craft Brewers posted a statement in support of the plan, pointing to the potential harm that the Trump tariffs could cause local craft beer companies who import aluminum for their cans. They also urged the LCBO to replace U.S. products with local ones.
“The positive impact of this move would be massive,” they said. “It would help Ontario craft brewers withstand the coming tariffs, create more good jobs in our communities, and put more money back into the local economy at this critical time.”
The London Brewing Co-op agreed that it created a good opportunity for local breweries.
Emma Maganja pours a locally crafted beer at London Brewing Co-op (credit: XFM News).
“We think it’s bringing attention to people, really thinking about where their beer is actually made,” said Emma Maganja, the marketing manager and one of the worker-owners at the brewery.
Even though someone’s favourite American beer may be off the shelf, she said that now is a good time for people to expand their palates.
“The number one complaint I often hear about craft beer is that they just want a ‘normal’ beer,” she said. “That’s totally fair, like I’m a lager girl, I am such a boring beer drinker, and I love that stuff.”
“And craft breweries know that,” she added. “We make some really great classic styles along with more experimental stuff.”
Like many local breweries, Maganja said that they use almost exclusively Canadian ingredients.
“We were using some American hops, but that is very few and far between,” she said. “We pride ourselves on being super local but that’s even more important now, so demand that your craft brewery is using local ingredients and pay local people to make it.”
