Ontario Premier Doug Ford expressed his frustration over the impending closure of a Crown Royal bottling plant. During a recent press conference, he poured out a bottle of the whisky and urged others to do the same in protest.

Diageo, the spirits company that produces Crown Royal, announced last week that it will shut down its bottling facility in Amherstburg, Ontario, early next year. This decision will impact approximately 200 jobs as the company shifts some of its bottling operations to the United States.

Ford criticized the decision, stating it reflects poor judgment, saying the company is “as dumb as a bag of hammers.” He inquired whether any incentives could be offered by Ontario to retain the jobs, but Diageo officials declined.

At the end of the press conference, Ford demonstrated his discontent by slowly dumping out the whisky, encouraging the public to support local whisky producers instead.

In response to the closure, Diageo has committed to engaging with the community and finding ways to support affected employees during the transition. The company plans to collaborate with Unifor, the union representing the workers, to assist those impacted by the closure.

Despite the plant's closure, Diageo stated it will maintain a significant presence in Canada, including its headquarters and warehouse operations in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec.