Ian Baillie, Executive Director of the BC Alliance of Beverage Licensees to speak at Economic Club tomorrow, Thursday May 9th:

Private Wine Stores in Ontario would boost economy, improve choice

TORONTO, May 8, 2013 /CNW/ - As Ontarians prepare for the next provincial election, competing visions of how to best retail Ontario's high quality VQA wines - and alcohol generally - is becoming an issue worth watching.

There's another option aside from beer and wine in corner stores or the status quo LCBO, and it's already a success in British Columbia.

Ian Baillie will describe what Ontario can learn from the experience in British Columbia where private stores operate alongside the provincial liquor retailer, boosting sales for both, increasing markets for local wines, beer and spirits while creating significant economic growth and maintaining the highest standards of community responsibility.

Baillie will be speaking to the Economic Club of Canada in Toronto on Thursday May 9th.  With both an Ontario election and a possible strike at the LCBO looming, his visit is timely.   A downloadable copy of his remarks is attached.

Where:  Delta Chelsea Hotel, 33 Gerrard St. West, Toronto

When:  Thursday May 9th

Time:  11:45 am

Baillie will be a guest of The Wine Council of Ontario, (WCO), the organization representing most Ontario wineries, which wants to see the Ontario government permit privately owned stores to sell wine as they do in BC.

PDF available at: http://stream1.newswire.ca/media/2013/05/08/20130508_C4236_DOC_EN_26541.pdf

SOURCE: Wine Council of Ontario

Hillary Dawson, President, Wine Council of Ontario : 416-407-3607  [email protected]

Ian Baillie, Executive Director, Alliance of Beverage Licensees : 604-761-5540