OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas sent the letter below to George Soleas, CEO of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Thomas is calling on Mr. Soleas to reopen the LCBO store in Larder Lake.
July 26, 2017
George Soleas
LCBO President and CEO 55 Lakeshore Blvd East, 4th Floor
Toronto, Ontario M5E 1A4
Dear Mr. Soleas,
I am writing to you in support of the many citizens and local politicians that have contacted you to ask that the LCBO in Larder Lake be reopened after operating for 70 years in the community.
I am asking you to consider the impact that such a closure will have on the livelihood of many in the community who rely on seasonal tourism to maintain the local economy. In an economy of scale, a closure of the only LCBO in town has a much greater negative economic impact than it would in any other setting.
A crown corporation that generates income for the province for social programs, must take a more nuanced approach when its business decisions threaten economic livelihoods in an already hard hit region of the province. Indeed, citizens expect that your decisions be held to a different standard as a crown corporation.
When the elected MPP, John Vanthof, laments that in Northern Ontario people are getting tired of being told that, “it sucks to be you,” it’s time that you listen and stop treating Northerners as second class citizens.
I want to let you know that my union will continue to support the community members of Larder Lake, Mayor Gary Cunnington, and MPP, John Vanthof, in their request to reopen the LCBO store.
I sincerely hope that the LCBO will reevaluate its decision in view of the greater considerations at hand.
Sincerely,
Warren (Smokey) Thomas
President, Ontario Public Service Employees Union
cc. Hon. Kathleen Wynne, Premier of Ontario
Hon. Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance
John Vanthof, MPP Timiskaming-Cochrane
Gary Cunnington, Mayor, Larder Lake
Andrea Horwath, MPP Hamilton-Centre
Patrick Brown, MPP Simcoe North
Denise Davis, OPSEU Chair, Liquor Board Employees Division
Philip Shearer, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 1
Laurie Nancekivell, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 1
Len Elliott, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 1
Eduardo Almeida, OPSEU 1st Vice-President/Treasurer
Erin Thorson, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 2
Lucy Morton, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 2
Sara Labelle, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 3
Janel Perron, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 3
Tracy Vyfschaft, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 3
Gareth Jones, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 4
Chrisy Tremblay, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 4
Julius Arscott, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 5
Myles Magner, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 5
Jessica Sikora, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 5
Michel Bisaillon, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 6
Tara Maszczakiewicz, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 6
Jean Luc Roy, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 6
Ed Arvelin, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 7
Kenneth Maclam, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 7
Carl Thibodeau, OPSEU Executive Board Member Region 7