LCBO denies plan to sell more than 200 stores it owns in Ontario

The LCBOhasdenied a report Monday it is thinkingof sellingoff the more than 200stores it owns across Ontario and leasing them instead.

"LCBOonly sells existing board-owned stores when we replace them with new and larger stores in higher-traffic retail locations," said spokespersonChristineBujold.

The board was reacting toquestions asked by Ontario Progressive Conservative finance critic Vic FedeliMonday morningat Queen's Park.

In a statement released Monday, theLCBOacknowledgedit posted a "Request for Proposal" onlinefor"as needed" real estate brokerage services tohelp it to manage future transactions such as leases, rentals and property sales, as part of itsbusiness plans.

It said it will issue an amendment to its proposal to ensure therequest is clearer.

Currently, it owns 228 of its retail properties, while itsremaining 426store locations are leased. Since 2006, it said ithas sold 31 of its retail locations, the majority of which have been replaced with newer and larger stores.

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Fedeli revealed the request for proposal in question period at Queen's Parkand said that it was putonline the day before the provincialbudget was disclosed last month.

"None of these details were in the budget," he said. "No details on which of the 250 locations, no details on how many of the thousands of jobs will be cut, no details on the financial impact this will have on the bottom line."

Finance Minister Charles Sousatold the legislatureany change in the LCBO's store networkwouldnot reduce itspresence.

"LCBO stores and the distribution network will continue with the same complement that it has now because it benefits all of Ontarians," he said.

"What may occur be it a leased premise or owned premise that would be up to the LCBO to determine the best value for taxpayer money," he said.

"There's no secret that this side of the House supports the LCBO, supports the work that they're doing and ...we are continuing to provide all the supports necessary for the LCBO to succeed."

The LCBO saidFedeli"misinterpreted"its request for proposal and itconfirmed Sousa's statements. Itsaid "in fact"it is investing in expanding the size and scope of its retail network to improve customer service.

Bujold said the request for proposal is"an efficiency measure to have one brokerage service to handle all LCBO store property real estate needs."

Previously,the LCBO obtained brokerage servicesthrough individual requests for quotations.

It said the proposal "will help ensure that LCBO has a single brokerage service it can access as needed going forward and represents a continuation of its standard business practices."