Ford distracting Ontarians with buck-a-beer challenge

August 7, 2018

TORONTO — Green Party of Ontario Leader Mike Schreiner issued the following statement in reaction to Premier Ford's buck-a-beer announcement:

“The Premier continues to distract Ontarians with his campaign slogans and back-of-the-napkin policy ideas while people suffer the real consequences of his ‘cut first; think later’ agenda.  

This announcement distracts from the PCs’ broken campaign promise that robs 4000 people of a basic income that was helping them turn their lives around. It distracts from their plan to take money away from people without any evidence, leaving Ontario without valuable information and analysis to fix the province’s broken social assistance system.

This announcement distracts from the chaos caused by interfering in Toronto’s municipal elections because the Premier thinks he can rule by decree, without consultation.

This announcement distracts from the outdated sexual health curriculum that will not give our children the information and tools they need to be safe.

This announcement distracts from the governments dismantling of Ontario’s climate plan at a time when extreme weather is contributing to forest fires, drought and floods.

But amidst all of this chaos, the Premier is pushing hard to induce companies to sell beer for a buck.

After spending weeks ripping up contracts and curriculums, dismantling climate plans and pilot projects, this is the first time the Premier has actually given us something. But instead of a climate plan or help for people living in poverty, it’s a cheap beer challenge.

Is this the Premier’s priority? Does he think reducing beer prices will solve the real problems facing this province?”

-30-