Bill 199 2007

An Act to amend the Liquor Control Act to permit the sale of VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer at convenience stores

Note: This Act amends the Liquor Control Act.  For the legislative history of the Act, see Public Statutes – Detailed Legislative History on www.e-Laws.gov.on.ca.

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

   1.  Section 1 of the Liquor Control Act is amended by adding the following definitions:

"convenience store" means a convenience store that is not less than 74 square metres and not more than 326 square metres; ("dépanneur")

"microbrewery beer" means beer brewed by an independent brewer that annually produces less than 250,000 hectolitres of beer; ("bière de microbrasseries")

"Vintners Quality Alliance wine (VQA wine)" has the same meaning as in the Vintners Quality Alliance Act, 1999. ("vin de la Vintners Quality Alliance (Vin de la VQA)").

   2.  (1)  Subsection 3 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(e.1) to authorize the sale of VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer in convenience stores and regulate convenience stores that are authorized to sell VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer and the sale of those products in convenience stores;

   (2)  Clause 3 (1) (f) of the Act is repealed and the following substituted:

    (f)  to control and supervise the marketing methods and procedures of manufacturers and of wineries that manufacture Ontario wine including the operation of government stores by persons authorized under clause (e) and the operation of convenience stores by persons authorized under clause (e.1);

   (3)  Subsection 3 (2) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(a.1) subject to any regulation, authorizations for convenience stores that sell VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer under clause (1) (e.1);

   3.  The Act is amended by adding the following section:

Smart Serve program

   4.6  (1)  The Board shall work with Smart Serve Ontario to ensure that a training program for people who work at convenience stores that are authorized to sell VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer under clause 3 (1) (e.1) is developed.

Same

   (2)  The training program shall address the sale of beer and wine at convenience stores and may also address the sale of tobacco and tobacco products at convenience stores.

Program required

   (3)  Once the training program is developed, all persons who work at a convenience store that is authorized to sell VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer under clause 3 (1) (e.1) shall be required to enroll in the program according to a schedule developed by the Board.

Definition

   (4)  In this section,

"Smart Serve Ontario" means the division of the Hospitality Industry Training Organization of Ontario that is recognized by the Alcohol and Gaming Commission of Ontario as the official delivery organization of the Smart Serve Responsible Alcohol Beverage Service Training Program in the Province of Ontario.

   4.  (1)  Subsection 8 (1) of the Act is amended by adding the following clause:

(c.1) governing the operation of convenience stores that are authorized to sell VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer under clause 3 (1) (e.1);

   (2)  Clause 8 (1) (d) of the Act is amended by striking out "government stores or classes of government stores" and substituting "government stores or classes of government stores and authorized convenience stores or classes of authorized convenience stores".

   (3)  Clauses 8 (1) (e) and (f) of the Act are repealed and the following substituted:

  (e)  governing the issuance of authorizations for government stores and convenience stores by the Liquor Control Board;

    (f)  prescribing the conditions that apply to authorizations for government stores and convenience stores or to authorizations for classes of government stores or classes of convenience stores;

   (4)  Clause 8 (1) (i) of the Act is amended by striking out "persons operating government stores" and substituting "persons operating government stores or authorized convenience stores".

Commencement

   5.  This Act comes into force on the day it receives Royal Assent.

Short title

   6.  The short title of this Act is the Sale of VQA Wine and Ontario Microbrewery Beer at Convenience Stores Act, 2007.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill amends the Liquor Control Act to permit the sale of VQA wine and Ontario microbrewery beer at convenience stores.