The politics of paper bags
And the latest changes for Conservation Authorities, wood buildings and more
ABOVE THE FOLD
IN THE BAG — Paper bags are making a comeback at the LCBO thanks to a demand from Premier DOUG FORD.
Gone are those pricier reusable bags and the annoying inconvenience for anyone who forgot to bring them when shopping.
Politically speaking, it’s an easy win for a populist premier like Ford, who is a pro at retail politics.
In a letter to the Crown corp Sunday, Ford said he wants “immediate steps” to revert back to the old bag policy. “At a time when many Ontario families are already struggling to make ends meet, every additional expense counts,” he wrote. “That includes charging customers for reusable bags instead of the free paper bags that the LCBO previously offered. This change has left people stuck openly carrying alcohol in public when leaving a LCBO store.”
Environmentally speaking, reusable bags aren’t necessarily the cure-all, and paper bags are relatively easy to recycle.
Naturally, the Tories move has garnered, ahem, a mix…