The Ontario government could be paving the way for beer to be sold in corner stores.
Legislation has been tabled that would terminate the Progressive Conservative's contract with The Beer Store.
Finance Minister Vic Fedeli says the current system is a monopoly that is a bad deal for consumers and businesses.
The previous Liberal government signed a 10-year deal with the brewers that permitted an expansion of beer and wine sales to hundreds of grocery stores.
Premier Doug Ford has indicated he plans to put beer and wine in corner stores, but to do so, would have to break that agreement.
If that happens, industry officials have warned it could trigger steep financial penalties but Fedeli says legislation to nullify the agreement will fully protect taxpayers against any costs of civil liabilities
The legislation comes after the province's special adviser on alcohol delivered a report Friday to Fedeli on ways to improve consumer choice and convenience.
— With files from The Canadian Press