Tag Archives: Scott Blodgett

Ontario Intro’s Online Alcohol Sales And Delivery Via LCBO.COM

Ontario is offering a new and convenient way to buy alcohol products by introducing online sales through LCBO.com.

Order beer with your iphone & open it when it is delivered with your iphone case!
Order beer with your iphone & open it when it is delivered with your iphone case!

Starting today, LCBO consumers can buy online up to 5,000 different products from across Canada and 85 other countries. Customers can choose to have their order sent to an LCBO store of their choosing for pick up, free of charge, or choose to have it delivered directly to their home, anywhere in Ontario.

Ontario beverage alcohol producers will have access to greater “virtual” shelf space, which increases their reach to consumers who may not always have access to their product in their local store. This is the government’s latest step to expand options for buying alcohol, including the sale of beer in grocery stores last December, cider this June and the arrival of wine this fall.

Today’s e-commerce launch strengthens LCBO’s ability to generate revenue for Ontarians and continue to fund key public services such as health care and education.

Ontario is expanding access responsibly. In partnership with Canada Post, the LCBO will ensure that online orders are only handled by and delivered to adults of legal drinking age. Ontario is also developing a comprehensive alcohol policy to support the safe and responsible consumption of alcohol.

Supporting more choice and convenience for consumers, while improving opportunities for businesses, is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest infrastructure investment in hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit in Ontario’s history and is investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUOTES

“This exciting launch of LCBO.com gives consumers greater choice and convenience while increasing opportunities for Ontario’s dynamic beverage alcohol producers. LCBO’s new e-commerce platform will continue to maintain a high standard of socially responsible distribution, while helping Ontario’s wine, beer and spirits businesses grow and create good, well-paying jobs in communities throughout Ontario.”
— Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance

George Soleas
George Soleas

“Online shopping at LCBO.com enables us to offer a convenient customer experience in a changing marketplace. This e-commerce platform draws on our local and international supplier relationships and buying power, efficient supply chain and extensive store network– bringing our customers across Ontario better access to a world of products. This new virtual LCBO store is a natural extension of our in store shopping experience.— George Soleas, President and CEO, LCBO

QUICK FACTS

§  Up to 5,000 individual products are now available online, including exclusives beyond the LCBO’s current catalogue. The total could grow to more than 16,000 over time.

§  Consumers can have Canada Post deliver products securely and responsibly directly to their home anywhere in Ontario for $12 per order plus tax. They can also have them shipped free for pickup at any of the LCBO’s 655 stores. A $50 minimum applies to online orders.

§  The LCBO had another record year in 2015–16, with sales of $5.57 billion, up 6.8 per cent year over year. It paid a dividend of $1.935 billion to Ontario, an increase of $130 million.

§  Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne, Québec Premier Philippe Couillard and British Columbia Premier Christy Clark recently committed to greater choice, convenience and expanded access to wines produced in their provinces through online ordering.

§  The Premier’s Advisory Council on Government Assets stated in its final report that it strongly supports the LCBO’s e-commerce launch because it will improve consumer choice.

LEARN MORE

§  The LCBO’s news release and backgrounder on online sales

§  The LCBO’s commitment to responsible retailing and consumption

§  Ontario’s programs supporting responsible consumption of beverage alcohol

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Disponible en français

L’Ontario lance un service de vente en ligne via LCBO.com

Des produits du Canada et de 85 autres pays au bout des doigts du consommateur

NOUVELLES

L’Ontario offre un moyen nouveau et pratique d’acheter des produits alcoolisés en offrant un service de vente en ligne via LCBO.com.

À compter d’aujourd’hui, les clients de la LCBO pourront acheter en ligne jusqu’à 5 000 produits du Canada et de 85 autres pays. Ils pourront faire livrer leur commande à un magasin de la LCBO sans frais, ou encore directement à leur domicile n’importe où en Ontario.

Les producteurs ontariens de produits alcoolisés auront accès à des rayons « virtuels » plus vastes, ce qui leur permettra d’atteindre des consommateurs qui ne trouvent pas toujours leurs produits dans le magasin de leur quartier. Il s’agit de la toute dernière mesure prise par le gouvernement pour élargir les options en matière d’achat de produits alcoolisés, qui comprennent la vente dans les épiceries de bière depuis décembre dernier, de cidre depuis ce mois de juin et de vin à compter de l’automne prochain.

Le lancement du service de vente en ligne renforce la capacité de la LCBO de générer des revenus pour la population de l’Ontario et de continuer à financer les services publics clés, dont les soins de santé et l’éducation.

L’Ontario élargit l’accès de façon responsable. La LCBO s’associe à Postes Canada pour s’assurer que les commandes en ligne sont traitées et livrées par des adultes en âge légal de boire. De plus, l’Ontario établit une politique détaillée en matière d’alcool pour appuyer la consommation sûre et responsable d’alcool.

Offrir plus de choix et de commodité aux consommateurs, tout en améliorant les possibilités pour les entreprises fait partie du plan économique du gouvernement, qui vise à favoriser l’essor de l’Ontario et à concrétiser sa principale priorité, à savoir stimuler l’économie et créer des emplois. Ce plan en quatre volets consiste notamment à aider plus de gens à obtenir et à créer les emplois de l’avenir en élargissant l’accès à des études collégiales et universitaires de haute qualité. De plus, le plan permet le plus important investissement de l’histoire de l’Ontario dans l’infrastructure des hôpitaux, des écoles, des routes, des ponts et des transports en commun et investit dans une économie sobre en carbone guidée par des entreprises innovatrices, à forte croissance et axées sur l’exportation. Enfin, le plan aide la population ontarienne active à bénéficier d’une retraite plus sure.

CITATION

« Le lancement de LCBO.com est un événement réjouissant qui donne aux consommateurs plus de choix et de commodité tout en accroissant les possibilités pour les producteurs dynamiques de boissons alcoolisées de notre province. La nouvelle plateforme de vente en ligne de la LCBO maintiendra une norme élevée de distribution socialement responsable, tout en aidant les producteurs ontariens de vin, de bière et de spiritueux à prendre de l’expansion et à créer de bons emplois bien rémunérés dans toute la province. »

— Charles Sousa, ministre des Finances

« LCBO.com nous permet d’offrir aux consommateurs un service de vente en ligne pratique sur un marché en évolution. Cette plateforme tire parti des relations que nous entretenons avec nos fournisseurs locaux et internationaux, de notre pouvoir d’achat, de notre chaîne d’approvisionnement efficace et de notre vaste réseau de magasins, afin d’offrir aux consommateurs ontariens un meilleur accès à une myriade de produits. Ce nouveau magasin virtuel de la LCBO est un prolongement naturel de l’expérience que nous offrons dans nos magasins. »

— George Soleas, président-directeur général, LCBO

EN BREF

·         Jusqu’à 5 000 produits individuels sont maintenant offerts en ligne, y compris des articles exclusifs ne figurant pas dans le catalogue actuel de la LCBO. À terme, le total pourrait atteindre plus de 16 000 produits.

·         Les consommateurs peuvent faire se livrer les produits de façon fiable et responsable par Postes Canada directement à leur domicile, n’importe où en Ontario, au coût de 12 $ la commande plus la taxe. Ils peuvent aussi recevoir leur commande sans frais dans l’un des 655 magasins de la LCBO. Un minimum de 50 $ s’applique aux commandes en ligne.

·         2015-2016 a été une nouvelle année record pour la LCBO qui a enregistré des ventes de 5,57 milliards de dollars, soit une augmentation de 6,8 % d’une année sur l’autre. Elle a versé un dividende de 1,935 milliard de dollars à l’Ontario, ce qui représente une hausse de 130 millions de dollars.

·         Kathleen Wynne, première ministre de l’Ontario, Philippe Couillard, premier ministre du Québec, et Christy Clark, première ministre de la Colombie-Britannique, se sont récemment engagés à offrir plus de choix et de commodité ainsi qu’un meilleur accès aux vins produits dans leurs provinces grâce au service de commande en ligne.

·         Dans son rapport final, le Conseil consultatif de la première ministre pour la gestion des biens provinciaux a indiqué qu’il appuyait vivement le lancement du service de vente en ligne de la LCBO parce qu’il offrira plus de choix au consommateur.

POUR EN SAVOIR PLUS

§  Communiqué et document d’information de la LCBO concernant le service de vente en ligne

§  Engagement de la LCBO envers un service de vente au détail et une consommation responsables

§  Programmes de l’Ontario favorisant la consommation responsable d’alcool

Ontario Wants To Intro Financial Accountability Officer

Liberals Financial Accountability OfficerThe Ontario government will introduce legislation to establish a Financial Accountability Officer, an independent officer of the Legislative Assembly. Ontario is the first province in Canada to introduce this oversight measure.

If the legislation is passed, the Financial Accountability Officer would provide independent analysis to all MPPs about the state of the province’s finances, including the Ontario Budget, as well as trends in the provincial and national economies. In addition, at the request of a legislative committee or an MPP, other types of research could be provided by the officer, including the financial cost or benefit to the province of any public bill. The Financial Accountability Officer could also be asked to review and estimate the financial cost or benefit to the province of any proposal that relates to a matter over which the Legislature has jurisdiction, such as the establishment of a new program.

Increasing financial openness is part of the government’s plan to work collaboratively, attract investment, create jobs and help people in their everyday lives.

“We are proposing the creation of a Financial Accountability Officer to further
enhance the openness and transparency of government.  This would also include the
financial assessment of any public bill brought forward to the Legislature by an
MPP.  The work undertaken by this independent officer will help better inform the
house on possible financial impacts of a proposed bill and increase information
available to Ontarians.”
– Charles Sousa, Minister of Finance

“We are fulfilling our commitments with the introduction of the Financial
Accountability Officer Act. I look forward to working with the opposition to pass
this Bill and other important legislation that we will be debating this fall.
Ontarians want to see minority government working, and I’m optimistic we’ll be able
to make progress in the Legislature.”

– John Milloy, Government House Leader

QUICK FACTS

§  The Financial Accountability Officer would be selected by a panel consisting of
one member from each recognized party, chaired by the Speaker of the Assembly who is
a non-voting member.
§  The Financial Accountability Officer would produce an annual report on or before
July 31 of each year.
§  The establishment of a Financial Accountability Officer builds on previous
government actions to enhance accountability and transparency, such as the Fiscal
Transparency and Accountability Act, 2004.

LEARN MORE

Read the 2013 Ontario Budget http://www.fin.gov.on.ca/en/budget/ontariobudgets/2013/
Disponible en français

Ontario Lottery & Gaming Report To Government Pushed For Modernization

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) developed a powerful analytic tool to provide instant access to billions of lottery transactions dating back to 1999. Dubbed the Data Analytic and Retrieval Technology (DART), OLG developed the solution in six months for about CAN$1.1 million (U.S.$1.15 million) with Microsoft and HP supporting technologies—a sharp contrast to the three-to-five years and more than $10 million needed with other BI solutions evaluated by OLG. Searches that used to take weeks can now be done in seconds. With the DART tool, OLG can identify play patterns to confirm legitimate winners and identify potentially fraudulent behavior and claims. DART builds on other OLG antifraud and player protection initiatives, delivering on the organization's pledge to better inform and protect those who play its games and lotteries.

OLG to Modernize Gaming- New Strategic Direction Will Create Jobs, Support Schools and Hospitals The Ontario government has received a report from the Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corporation (OLG) that proposes modernization of the system, an increase in its revenues by more than $1 billion a year, and the creation of 2,300 net new jobs in the gaming industry and nearly 4,000 additional jobs in the hospitality and retail sectors by 2017-18.

With internet-based gaming growing, a higher Canadian dollar and U.S. border communities building their own gaming sites, our gaming system has to change. These reforms will modernize gaming in Ontario by allowing safe, responsible access to gaming opportunities.

The government has directed the OLG to implement a number of the proposals:

 Reconfigure the number of gaming sites and tailor the types of gaming activities made available at each site
 Launch multi-lane sales of lottery tickets at major retail outlets, including grocery stores
 Increase operational efficiencies by expanding the role of the private sector
 Stop annual payments to the horse racing industry by ending the Slots at Racetracks program on March 31, 2013, and allowing slot facilities to be located more strategically
 Implement a new fee model for municipalities hosting gaming sites; and
 Allow one new casino in the GTA, subject to an OLG business case and municipal approval.

The government will also enhance its responsible gambling programming. http://knowyourlimit.ca/PDF/Policies_and_Programs_ENG.pdf

These initiatives will allow OLG to meet the demands of a changing gaming marketplace.

QUOTES

“We are focused, more than ever, on balancing the budget while continuing to provide the best education and health care in the world. Modernizing OLG’s operations and business model is an example of how we are ensuring our assets are delivering the greatest value to taxpayers.”
Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance

QUICK FACTS

 OLG is the biggest non-tax revenue generating Crown agency in Ontario, and the largest gaming organization – and jurisdiction – in North America, with 27 gaming sites and 10,000 lottery points of sale.
 In July 2010, the government directed OLG to undertake a review of its land-based gaming operations and lottery distribution network, to see how revenue from these could be optimized. The government’s plan to transform how OLG does business is a result of this review.
 Eight million people in Ontario play lotteries at least once every year, and 2.7 million Ontarians went to an OLG gaming site at least once last year.
 OLG generated $2 billion in net revenue for the province in 2010-11.
 Since 1975, OLG lotteries, and OLG Slots and Casinos have generated more than $28 billion for Ontario.
 Since 1998, OLG has provided nearly $3.7 billion to horseracing in Ontario through the Slots-at-Racetracks program. This year’s payment is estimated to be $345 million. That’s more than is spent on road safety or water safety. It’s also enough money to pay for more than two million house calls from doctors, nine million hours of home care or 27,800 hip or knee replacement surgeries.
 Provincial proceeds from gaming activities help support key government services, including health care and education.
 Ontario spends nearly $50 million annually on problem gambling treatment, prevention and research – more than any other jurisdiction in North America.

LEARN MORE
Read about the changes OLG is making to lottery and gaming in Ontario http://www.olg.ca/assets/documents/media/backgrounder_gaming.pdf
Learn more about OLG’s customers http://www.olg.ca/assets/documents/media/backgrounder_customers.pdf
See how revenue generated by OLG goes to help all Ontarians http://www.olg.ca/assets/documents/media/backgrounder_why_gaming_is_important.pdf
See how the OLG promotes responsible gambling.http://www.knowyourlimit.ca/

 

FOR PUBLIC INQUIRIES CALL:
1-800-337-7222
www.ontario.ca/finance-news Disponible en français

SUPPLEMENTAL- retail lottery fraud-the ‘switching of lottery tickets’ was a problem in the past and the OLG has developed new innovations to combat fraud-

Ontario takes actions to eliminate deficit- LCBO headquarters for sale, will end public funding of horseracing

Ontario will end tax payers subsidy of horseracing and sell the LCBO headquarters in its efforts to combat the provinces deficit

Ontario’s newest actions to eliminate the deficit are critical to job creation and economic growth, says Minister of Finance Dwight Duncan. The Ontario government is moving forward with a responsible plan to eliminate the deficit so that more jobs are created and the economy continues to grow.

Since the introduction of the 2011 Budget, growth in the global economy has slowed. This means additional steps must be taken to slow down the rate of growth of government spending in order to keep the plan to eliminate the deficit on track.

Ontario Finance Minister Dwight Duncan outlined today the next steps in the government’s plan to eliminate the deficit. These steps will give Ontarians better value for money and lead to improved public services.

The LCBO headquarters, currently located on some of the most valuable, under-developed real estate in Canada, will be sold and redeveloped. A retail store will remain in the vicinity while the headquarters will be moved. The LCBO will realize ongoing savings and after the land is sold and a new, modern facility is built, it is expected to generate well over $200 million for taxpayers.

The government will move to greater involvement of the private sector in ServiceOntario through a strengthened public-private partnership. This will deliver better value for money and improve customer service for families.

Since 1998, Ontario taxpayers have been supporting horseracing with a subsidy of up to $345 million a year. The province will evaluate that subsidy given the need to continue to invest in health care and education.

Minister Duncan reiterated that the government is on track to meet its deficit target this year, and said these new measures will help ensure the government stays on track to eliminate the deficit by 2017–2018.

QUOTES
“Eliminating the deficit is essential to continued economic growth and job creation. A strong economy supports the schools and hospitals families rely on. Our plan will eliminate the deficit by 2017–2018.”
— Dwight Duncan, Minister of Finance

QUICK FACTS
 The LCBO property currently includes head office space and a large warehouse dating from 1954. It also contains a flagship store, which will be redeveloped nearby.
 About two-thirds of ServiceOntario’s in-person service locations are already operated by private sector partners.
 With 17 locations, Ontario has more racetracks and provides more public funding than any other place in North America. The cost of the current horseracing subsidy would pay for over 27,800 hip or knee replacement surgeries or provide over 9 million hours of home care.

LEARN MORE
Read about the revitalization of Ontario Place. Read http://www.ontario.ca/en/initiatives/progressreport2011/index.htm

FOR MEDIA INQUIRIES ONLY:
Aly Vitunski, Minister’s Office, 416-325-9819
Scott Blodgett, Ministry of Finance, 416-325-0324
www.ontario.ca/finance-news
*Disponible en français