In a dramatic display of defiance, Ontario Premier Doug Ford made headlines this Tuesday by pouring out a bottle of Crown Royal whisky in protest of the iconic brand's decision to close its bottling plant in Amherstburg, Ontario.

The closure, which was announced last week by Diageo, the parent company, will shift bottling operations to the U.S. in a move they claim will enhance their North American supply chain efficiency. While U.S. bottling will relocate stateside, Canadian consumers will now receive their Crown Royal from a facility in Valleyfield, Quebec.

This decision has dire implications for nearly 200 employees at the Ontario plant, who will be left jobless when it officially shuts its doors in February 2026.

In an unrelated press conference, Ford voiced his outrage, stating, "They’re hurting Ontario residents and the people who work at Crown Royal." He directed a sharp warning to Diageo's CEO in France: "You hurt my people. I’m going to hurt you. You’re going to feel the pain in February when these people don’t have a paycheck."

To drive his message home, Ford dramatically uncorked a bottle of Crown Royal he had brought from home, pouring its contents onto the ground while addressing the audience. "This is what I think about Crown Royal. That’s what they could do. But I think everyone else should do the same thing," he declared, as whisky flowed from the bottle.

As reactions ensued, Diageo promised to engage with the affected community and support its employees through this tough transition, even partnering with Unifor to aid unionized workers.

Marsha McIntosh, Diageo's President of North America supply, stated in a press release, "This was a difficult decision, but crucial for improving our supply chain network's efficiency and resiliency."

Despite the closure, Diageo emphasized that they will maintain a significant presence in Canada, with their headquarters and warehousing in the Greater Toronto Area, as well as bottling and distillation facilities in Manitoba and Quebec. Furthermore, all Crown Royal products will continue to be made at their Canadian facilities, ensuring that the essence of the brand remains rooted in its origins.

As the debate over local jobs and corporate restructuring evolves, Ford’s bold act has surely ignited a fiery conversation around the impact of corporate decisions on communities.