The president of the Cochrane Board of Trade says removing a service like the Beer Store makes no sense in a growing community with an emphasis on tourism.
Frank Louvelle is skeptical about convenience stores selling beer.
“Are we going to have the same selection first of all, which I sincerely doubt, because they’ll probably just sell the top brands,” he foresees. “And second of all, how are we going to return our empties for recycling? You know, these are two of the main issues that need to be addressed.”
The loss of jobs issue is another one Louvelle wants addressed, as well as the expected higher price to buy beer in convenience stores.
“When people are deciding where they’re going to live, where they’re going to go on vacation in the wintertime – as you know, we’re a great destination for winter sports – if they realize they’re going to have to pay more for their beer in Cochrane than for example in Timmins, where do you think they’re going to go?”
The closure of up to 120 stores by 2026 and an unlimited number after that, is part of a deal struck by the provincial government to institute its plans for beer in convenience stores.
Louvelle calls it another decision by people who don’t live in Northern Ontario and don’t realize how large the region is, or how hard it is to get from one location to another, especially on dangerous winter highways.
Here is our full interview:
