Manitoba’s Kinew Urges Ford to Reconsider Ontario’s Upcoming Crown Royal Ban

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew signs barrels outside the Diageo plant where Crown Royal whisky is produced, in Gimli, Man., on Jan. 13, 2026. Kinew is calling on Ontario Premier Doug Ford to cancel a planned boycott of the whisky. The Canadian Press/Steve Lambert

Manitoba Premier Wab Kinew is urging Premier Doug Ford to abandon his plans for a boycott of Crown Royal whisky in Ontario liquor stores, saying such a move will hurt jobs in Manitoba.

“I’m calling on Premier Ford to stop his plan when it comes to LCBO taking Crown off the shelves,” Kinew said during a Jan. 13 press conference outside the Gimli, Man., plant operated by spirits giant Diageo.