Anthony Leardi hopes you'll go through your cupboards and remove Diageo products. He wants you to dump it.
Why? The pending closure of Amherstburg's Diageo bottling plant.
"I think we need to support our own," said the Essex MPP. "We need to support Amherstburg. We need to support the Diageo workers, and we need to support the Unifor Local 200 members who are working so hard to save their own jobs. Amherstburgers need to support Amherstburgers, and we need to support each other in the province of Ontario."
The Essex MPP wants to send Diageo a clear message that Ontario consumers will not allow the company to disrespect Ontario workers.
"The Province of Ontario purchases $740-million worth of Diageo products every year, and we are their number one customer in North America," Leardi explained. "They should not be treating Amherstburg this way, and they should not be treating the Diageo workers this way. We need to send them a message."
Leardi didn't say if he would support the LCBO removing Diageo products from store shelves, but acknowledged others, including the President of Unifor Local 200, John D'Agnolo, have. However, he was clear that consumers have other choices in the province, even in Amherstburg.
"You should dump your Crown Royal because there are a lot of good whiskey makers right here in the province of Ontario. In fact, there's a fantastic whiskey maker right here in the Town of Amherstburg in the village of McGregor called Wolfhead."
The plant is expected to close in February, putting 160 people out of work.