Premier Doug Ford calls for LCBO to bring back paper bags

Paper bags will soon be available for customers again at the LCBO, after Premier Doug Ford ordered the crown corporation to reverse its reusable bag policy.

In a letter sent to the LCBO's president and CEO on Sunday, the premier asked that "immediate steps" be taken to bring paper bags back in stores.

"At a time when many Ontario families are already struggling to make ends meet, every additional expense counts," the premier wrote. "That includes charging customers for reusable bags instead of the free paper bags that the LCBO previously offered."

The move is already drawing criticism from the opposition.

NDP leader Marit Stiles says she has heard from people who want the government to take action on the cost of living crisis, but says returning paper bags to the LCBO is not a solution her office has heard from the public about.

"I don't know where he's decided that's the big priority," she said. "Every time I've ever been to the LCBO and I don't have my shopping bag, I find the boxes quite handy."

The LCBO announced in April 2023 that it would start phasing out the bags, saying the move would divert 2,665 tonnes of waste from landfills and save the equivalent of over 188,000 trees every year.

As of Sept. 5, 2023 the paper bags stopped being available in stores, so customers can bring a reusable bag, purchase a reusable bag, or use free cardboard boxes the LCBO provides.

In a statement Monday morning, the LCBO said it can't yet confirm a date for when the paper bags will be available once more, but that it will share more details in the future.