All Posts Tagged With: "LCBO"
Liquor board reviews controversial distillery scholarship
“Spirit of Education” contest awards $3,000 for essay on responsible drinking
A scholarship that Canada’s distilleries hand out to the sons and daughters of workers at Ontario’s liquor agency has come under scrutiny as a possible breach of ethics.
The $3,000 prize has been awarded 12 times since its founding in 1998, including once to Roslyn Peter, daughter of Bob Peter, president of the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. The most recent winner was announced in May.
The award, restricted to post-secondary students whose parents work at the LCBO, may violate tough conflict-of-interest guidelines imposed on the agency last August by the Ontario government.
The guidelines have dried up the flow of hundreds of free tickets the big distilleries and breweries had been giving to LCBO staff, for hockey games, concerts, curling matches and stage shows. Business meals worth less than $50 are still allowed.
The tighter rules are intended to ensure government workers don’t use their employment for personal enrichment by suppliers and clients.
But the so-called Spirit of Education scholarship was allowed to continue this year, despite the new restrictions outlined in the amended Public Service of Ontario Act.
Asked about ethical issues surrounding the scholarship, a spokeswoman for the LCBO said the agency is “reviewing our practices to ensure they are compliance with this legislation.”
“The Spirit of Education scholarship program has been scheduled as part of this review, and as a result, LCBO’s participation in this scholarship program may change,” Linda Hapak said in an email response.
“The review will include a legal perspective on this matter.”
The scholarship was created by the Association of Canadian Distillers, representing Canada’s major liquor producers, also known as Spirits Canada. The organization includes Corby Distilleries Ltd. and Diageo Canada Ltd.
Jan Westcott, president of Spirits Canada, said the award is intended to “encourage young people to consider careers in the hospitality industry.”
